SEYMOUR  DURST 


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tE^ercentenarp  Cliition 

OF  THE 

HISTORICAL  GUIDE  TO  THE 
CITY  OF  NEW  YORK 


Under  the  Auspices  of  the 

MUSEUM  EXHIBITS  COMMITTEE 

Chair7na7i 
George  F.  Kunz,  Ph.D.,  Sc.  D. 

N.  L.  Britton,  Ph.D.,  Sc.D. 
Hon.  Robert  W.  de  Forest 
Archer  M.  Huntington,  Litt.D. 
Henry  F.  Osborn,  Ph.D.,  LL.  D. 


THE  SEAL  OF  NEW  YORK  CITY  IN  1787. 


LEGEND  (unabbreviated)  Sigilhim  Civitatis  Novi  Ehoraci:  "  Seal 
of  the  City  of  New  York;  Ehoraci  being  the  genitive  case  of  the 
old  Roman  name  for  York. 

SHIELD:  Argent,  charged  with  the  four  sails  of  a  windmill  proper; 
between  their  outer  ends,  two  heavers  proper,  one  in  chief  and 
one  in  baseband  two  Hour-barrels  proper,  in  fess,  one  on  each  side. 

CREST:  A  bald  eagle  proper,  rising  from  a  demi-terrestrial  globe. 
The  beaver  is  an  emblem  of  the  fur  trade,  so  important  in  Dutch 
days;  the  sails  nnd  barrels  represent  the  bolting  industry,  a 
monopoly  of  which  was  granted  New  York  merchants  by  the 
Bolting  Act  of  1678. 

SUPPORTERS  (not  heraldically  part  of  the  city  arms  and  variously 
represented  to-day):  dexter  (right)  side  of  shield,  a  sailor  in 
dress  and  cap  of  1700  holding  in  his  right  hand  a  ship's  sounding- 
line ;  on  the  sinister  (left)  side,  an  Indian  chief  with  a  stringed 
bow. 

The  sailor  is  said  to  be  in  honor  of  James  who  was  not  only 
Proprietor  of  New  York  but  also  Lord  High  Admiral  of  England; 
the  Indian  represented  the  inhabitants  and  possessors  of  his 
Province  in  America. 

— From  a  Report  of  the  Saint  Nicholas  Society. 


tKfje  €itv  ftisttorj)  Club  of  i^eto  |9orfe 

105  West  40TH  Street 


Honorary  President 
President 

First  Vice-President 
Second  Vice-President 
Treasurer  .  . 

Secretary  . 
Assistant  Secretary  . 
Superintendent 
Assistant  Superintendent 
Assistant  Treasurer 


OFFICERS 
1914-15 

Mrs.  Robert  Abbe 
Mrs.  a.  Barton  Hepburn 
George  F.  Kunz,  Ph.D.,  Sc.D. 
E.  R.  L.  Gould,  Ph.D. 
Mrs.  Frederick  W.  Longfellow- 
Mrs.  Carr  Van  Anda 
Miss  Augusta  Drake 
Frank  Bergen  Kelley,  Ph.D. 

Mr.  Charles  Kandel 
Mrs.  Robert  R.  M.  Emmet 


Prepared  with  the  co-operation  of  and  endorsed  by 

W^t  American  Scenic  anb  ^i^ioxit  ^resierbation  ^ocietp 

OFFICERS 
1914 

Honorary  President  ...  .  E.  H.  Harriman,  Jr. 
President   George  F.  Kunz,  Ph.D.,  Sc.D. 

Vice-Presidents 
Colonel  Henry  W.  Sackett  Dean  Liberty  H.  Bailey 

Honorable  George  Y\  Perkins      Henry  M.  Leipziger,  Ph.D.,  LL.D. 

Treasurer   Hon.  N.  Taylor  Phillips 

Secretary  Edward  Hagaman  Hall,  L.H.D. 


iv 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 

TO  THE 

CITY  OF  NEW  YORK 

COMPILED  BY 

FRANK  BERGEN  KELLEY 

From  Original  Observations  and  Cojitributions 
Made  by  Members  and  Friends  0/ 

The  City  History  Club  of  New  York 

WITH  SEVEXTY  }L-iFS  AXD  DL4GRAMS  AXD 
FORTY-EIGHT  lEEUSTRATIOXS 


TTte  i^eto  gorfe  Commercial  tlTercentenarp 
CDommiSSion 

anb 

Cf)e  Citp  ^istorp  Club  of  ^eto  gorfe 


Copyright,  1909,  by  the  City  History  Club  of  New  York, 
The  Excursions  are  copyrighted  separately,  the  notice  and  date  of  each  being 
given  on   the   first   page   of   each  one. 

The  copyright  extends  to  all  plates  and  cuts. 

Copyright,  1913,  by  the  City  History  Club  of  New  York. 


VI 


THE  NEW  YORK  COMMERCIAL  TERCENTENARY. 

1614-1914. 

IXTRODUCTIOX. 

By  Edward  Hagamax  Hall,  L.H.D. 

Reprinted  here  by  permission,  from  Appendix  D  of  the  1914  Annual 
Report  of  the  American  Scenic  and  Historic  Preservation  Society. 

From  March  27  to  October  11,  1914,  the  City  and  State  of  New  York 
Vv'ill  celebrate,  by  means  of  a  series  of  religious,  historical  and  educa- 
tional exercises,  art,  scientific,  and  commerical  exhibits,  street  parades, 
and  other  festivities,  the  three  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  beginning 
of  the  regularly  chartered  commerce  of  what  are  now  the  City  and 
Slate  of  New  York.  The  dates  above  mentioned  are  the  anniversaries 
respectively  of  the  granting  of  the  first  general  charter  and  the  first 
special  charter  by  the  States  General  of  the  United  Netherlands  for 
trading  to  New  Netherland. 

To  arrange  for  the  suitable  observances  of  the  completion  of  three 
centuries  of  American  commerce,  the  late  Mayor  Gaynor  of  New  York, 
in  December,  1912,  appointed  a  Citizens'  Committee  which  was  subs.e- 
quently  enlarged  and  became  incorporated  as  the  New  York  Commer- 
cial Tercentenary  Commission  by  a  special  act  of  the  Legislature,  chap- 
ter 313  of  the  Laws  of  1913.  The  Commission  consists  of  the  persons 
named  in  the  Charter,  the  Mayors  of  all  the  Cities  of  the  State  ex- 
officio,  the  Presidents  of  the  incorporated  Villages  of  the  Hudson  Valley 
cx-officio,  and  such  persons  as  may  have  been  or  may  be  associated  with 
them  by  appointment  by  the  Governor  of  the  State  or  the  Mayor  of  the 
City  of  New  York. 

The  Charter  of  the  Commission  is  almost  verbatim  like  that  of  the 
Hudson-Fulton  Celebration  Commission,  but  the  movement  itself  has 
a  different  origin.  The  Hudson-Fulton  Celebration  in  1909  was  puretV 
historical  in  its  conception  and  execution,  everything  of  a  commercial 
nature  being  carefully  excluded  from  the  program.  The  present  cele- 
bration was  initiated  by  representatives  of  some  of  the  leading  mer- 
chants, manufacturers  and  commercial  exchanges  of  New  York  and 
contemplates,  in  connection  with  the  historical  commemoration,  the 
cultivation  of  commercial  relations  throughout  the  country. 

vi  a 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


In  glancing  at  the  historical  events  upon  which  the  celebration  is 
based  it  is  interesting  to  note  that  the  commerce  of  New  Netherland 
began  and  was  fully  established  before  New  Netherland  was  perma- 
nently settled.  The  first  permanent  settlement  in  what  is  now  the  State 
of  New  York  was  made  by  the  Dutch  at  Fort  Orange  (Albany)  in 
1624,  and  the  first  permanent  settlement  on  Manhattan  Island  was  made 
at  New  Amsterdam  in  1626.  The  permanence  and  success  of  those  set- 
tlements from  the  very  beginning  were  due,  next  to  the  natural  industry 
of  the  Dutch  pioneers,  mainly  to  the  fact  that  there  had  been  ten  years 
of  peaceful  and  successful  trading  with  the  Indians  by  means  of  which 
the  Dutch  had  contracted  friendly  relations  with  the  natives  before 
they  attempted  to  settle  permanently. 

The  importance  of  this  fact  becomes  apparent  w^hen  one  compares  the 
course  of  events  on  the  Hudson  with  what  happened  on  the  James  River 
in  Virginia. 

When  the  States  General  of  the  United  Netherlands  in  1614  granted 
the  first  charter  for  trading  to  New  Netherland,  there  were  only  two 
permanent  settlements  upon  the  Atlantic  coast  of  the  present  United 
States,  namely,  the  Spanish  settlement  at  St.  Augustine,  Fla.,  and  the 
English  settlement  at  Jamestown,  Va.* 

St.  Augustine,  founded  in  1565,  did  not  develop  a  commerce.  It  was 
established  primarily  as  a  military  post  to  secure  possession  of  Florida 
in  order  to  prevent  other  nations  settling  there  and  interfering  with  the 
treasure  ships  of  Spain  passing  between  Mexico  and  the  old  country, 
but  it  was  also  a  center  of  missionary  work  among  the  Indians. 

Jamestown  was  settled  in  1607.  Plymouth  was  not  settled  until  1620. 
It  was  between  these  two  dates  that  the  commerce  of  the  Hudson 
Valley  was  begun.  While  too  much  cannot  be  said  of  the  wonderful 
enterprise  and  courage  which  led  to  the  first  permanent  planting  of 
Anglo-Saxon  civilization  upon  this  continent  at  Jamestown,  it  is  never- 
theless to  be  observed  that  the  early  years  of  that  colony  were  char- 
acterized by  a  desperate  struggle  for  mere  existence ;  the  development 
of  a  commerce,  much  as  it  was  desired,  was  out  of  the  question.  The 
Colonists  did  not  at  first  raise  enough  produce  to  sustain  their  own 
lives,  and  were  kept  alive  partly  by  food  brought  from  the  mother 
country  by  what  v.ere  called  the  First  Supply,  the  Second  Supply,  the 
Third  Supply,  etc.,  and  corn  exacted  from  the  Indians  much  against  the 
latter's  will.    It  is  true,  they  sent  back  to  England  some  rough  timber, 

*Thcrc  was  also  a  third  i)crniant  nt  settlement  within  the  limits  of  the  present 
United  .States,  at  .Santa  Fe,  X.  Mcx.  This,  however,  was  a  religious,  not  a  com- 
mercial establishment. 

vi  b 


TERCENTENARY  EDITION 


a  consignment  of  sassafras,  a  cage  of  flying  squirrels  for  the  King,  a 
load  of  yellow  dirt  which  was  thought  to  contain  gold,  etc.,  but  nothing 
in  those  early  years  of  sufficient  value  to  compensate  the  factors  for 
their  investments ;  while  the  Colonists  perished  with  starvation  and 
Indian  massacres  until  their  precarious  hold  on  the  continent  was  almost 
broken.  It  was  not  until  1614  or  161 5 — just  about  the  time  of  charter- 
ing of  the  New  Netherland  commerce — that  their  attention  was  turned 
seriously  to  the  cultivation  of  tobacco,  which  eventually  became  a  staple 
crop  :  but  for  several  years  after  that,  even,  while  developing  the  culture 
of  tobacco,  they  were  so  improvident  that  they  did  not  raise  edible' 
crops  enough  to  feed  themselves,  and  had  to  be  assisted  with  the  neces- 
sities of  existence  sent  from  England. 

Meanwhile  the  Dutch,  who  for  many  years  had  had  a  profitable  com- 
m.erce  with  Russia  in  furs  and  who  were  keen  rivals  of  the  English 
Muscovy  Company  in  the  Russian  trade,  quick  to  realize  the  value  of 
the  resources  of  these  commodities  in  the  Hudson  Valley,  began  trading 
in  this  unappropriated  region.  That  the  commerce  v/as  profitable  from 
the  very  beginning  is  evident  from  the  eagerness  with  which  the  Am- 
sterdam merchants  applied  for  a  monopolistic  charter  after  their  pre- 
liminary voyages  hither,  and  the  jealousy  with  which  they  regarded  any 
attempts  at  competition,  surreptitious  or  otherwise,  after  they  secured 
that  charter.  It  is  the  beginning  of  that  commerce,  which  has  radiated 
from  New  York  and  expanded  to  such  great  proportions,  that  the 
Tercentenary  primarily  commemorates. 

Another  significarit  event,  closely  connected  with  the  beginning  of  this 
commerce,  was  the  building  of  the  ship  Onrust  (Restless)  in  New 
Netherlands  in  1614.  The  Onrust  was  not  the  first  vessel  to  be  built 
within  the  limits  of  the  present  United  States.  In  1527  Narvaez's  men 
built  five  vessels  in  Florida*,  and  there  are  other  evidences  of  extempo- 
raneous ship-building  in  that  region.  Small  vessels  had  also  been 
brought  to  America  in  sections  to  be  put  together  here,  and  various 
small  repairs  had  been  made  on  the  Atlantic  coast.  But  the  Onrust 
was  the  first  vessel  to  be  built  entirely  of  native  wood  along  the  middle 
or  northern  Atlantic  coast,  so  far  as  our  present  information  goes,  and  % 
to  have  performed  as  notable  work  of  exploration  as  that  done  by 
Block's  ship. 

This  Celebration  in  1914  is  emphasized  by  a  contemporaneous  com- 
mercial event  of  extraordinary  importance  to  the  nation,  namely,  the 
practical  opening  of  the  Panama  Canal.    This  achievement  connects 

*Thc  Onrust  was  44^  feet  from  stem  to  stern.    The  vessels  built  in  Florida  were 
22  cubits  long.    A  cubit  is  variously  estimated  at  from  18  to  22  inches. 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


backward  with  the  events  of  which  we  have  been  speaking,  and  even 
earlier  history.  When  Columbus  sailed  in  14Q2,  he  believed  that  he 
could  reach  the  Orient  by  sailing  westward.  After  he  had  discovered 
the  West  India  islands  and  the  Cabots  had  discovered  continental 
America,  and  it  was  found  that  a  double  continent  impeded  the  sea- 
road  to  Cathay,  subsequent  explorers  tried  to  find  a  passage  through  the 
land  to  the  sea  beyond.  Cartier,  La  Salle*  and  Champlain  tried  to  reach 
China  by  wa}^  of  the  Saint  Lawrence  River  and  failed.  Captain  John 
Smith  tried  to  reach  the  East  Indies  by  way  of  the  James  River,  but 
was  stopped  by  the  Falls  of  Richmond.  Henry  Hudson,  choosing  be- 
tween a  route  unsuccessfully  attempted  by  John  Davis  and  another 
untried  route  which  he  thought  more  promising,  tried  to  reach  China 
by  way  of  the  Hudson  River,  with  no  better  success  so  far  as  his 
original  object  was  concerned.  Xow,  after  the  lapse  of  centuries,  the 
passage  which  they  failed  to  find  we  have  made  at  Panama.  We  thus 
have  a  period  of  three  hundred  years  of  America  nhistory  sharply 
defined  by  tv>-o  conspicuous  events — at  one  end  the  beginning  of  the 
chartered  commerce  of  New  Netherland  which  was  the  forerunner  of 
the  greater  commerce  of  the  nation;  at  the  other  end,  the  opening  of 
the  Panama  Canal,  which  is  the  consummation  of  the  hitherto  unat- 
tained  hopes  of  centuries  and  w^hich  is  destined  vastly  to  increase  the 
commerce  of  the  Port  of  New  York  and  the  nation  as  time  goes  on. 

These  events,  taken  together  with  the  virtual  completion  of  the  en- 
larged Erie  Canal  and  the  rounding  out  of  a  Century  of  Peace  between 
the  English-speaking  peoples,  make  1914  a  red-letter  year  in  the  na- 
tional calendar. 

The  plan  of  the  celebration  does  not  deal  exclusively  with  the  material 
side  of  commerce.  At  no  period  in  the  history  of  the  world  has  the 
intimate  reciprocal  relation  between  commerce  and  industry  on  the  one 
hand  and  intellectual  activity,  as  represented  in  the  arts,  sciences  and 
letters,  on  the  other,  been  so  fully  recognized  as  now.  The  modern 
university  idea,  as  was  well  expressed  recently  by  Chancellor  Brown  of 
New  York  University,  a  member  of  the  Tercentenary  Commission,  is 
to  bring  the  university  into  touch  with  every  practical  phase  of  human 
life.  The  same  may  be  said  of  the  modern  educational  idea  generally. 
It  reflects  itself  in  the  establishment  of  Professorships  of  Commerce 
and  Colleges  of  Commerce  in  connection  with  the  higher  institutions  of 
learning,  and  in  many  other  ways.    A  strong  and  active  national  com- 

*The  name  La  Chine  Ctlie  French  for  China)  was  given  in  derision  to  a  seigniory 
granted  to  La  Salle  at  Montreal  on  account  of  his  ambition  to  reach  China  by  that 
route.    The  name  is  preserved  in  that  of  the  La  Chine  Rapids. 

vi  d 


TERCENTENARY  EDITION 


merce  and  a  vigorous  and  virile  national  industry  stimulate  art,  science 
and  literature,  and  these  in  turn  react  upon  the  commercial  and  indus- 
trial life  of  the  Nation,  making  it  more  fruitful  and  progressive.  Com- 
merce is  so  truly  the  handmaiden  of  Civilization,  that  it  may  almost  be 
said  that  the  culture  of  a  people  in  the  arts  of  civilization  can  be  meas- 
ured by  its  industry  and  commerce.*  For  these  reasons,  the  plan  of 
the  Celebration  contemplates  the  active  participation  of  the  educational 
institutions,  the  museums  of  art  and  science,  historical  societies,  and 
other  bodies  representing  the  intellectual  life  of  the  City,  State  and 
Nation. 

The  New  York  Commercial  Tercentenary  Celebration,  therefore,  is 
not  an  affair  of  circumscribed  interest.  The  relation  which  the  events 
to  be  celebrated  bears  to  the  commerce  and  industries  of  the  whole 
country  is  so  intimate  that  the  commemoration  is  one  of  national  signifi- 
cance, and  it  is  most  appropriate  that  our  fellow  citizens  of  other  States 
should  share  in  the  pride  in  the  splendid  commerce  which  has  developed 
from  the  small  beginning  three  centuries  ago  and  should  actively  par- 
ticipate in  the  exercises,  exhibitions  and  festivals  attending  the  joyful 
celebration  of  the  anniversary. 

*Xote,  for  instance,  the  contrast  between  the  Greeks,  a  maritime  people,  and  the 
Egyptians,  a  non-maritime  people;  or  between  the  sea-going  Dutch  and  the  exclusive 
Ziud  self-centered  Chinese,  with  respect  to  both  their  own  progress  in  art,  science 
and  letters  and  their  influence  in  the  spreading  of  civilization  abroad. 


VI  e 


INTRODUCTION  TO  THE 
TERCENTENARY  EDITION 

The  present  edition  has  been  prepared  especially  for  the  New  York 
Commercial  Tercentenary  Commission. 

It  consists  of  the  complete  1913  edition  of  the  Historical  Guide 
with  corrections  to  date  (see  following  pages),  and  an  ar^cle  by  Ed- 
ward Hagaman  Hall  on  the  founding  of  commerce  in  Manhattan. 

Appended  at  the  end  of  the  volume  appears  a  list  of  all  the  members 
of  the  Tercentenary  Commission,  followed  by  a  booklet  issued  by  the 
New  York  Public  Library  giving  a  list  of  books  on  New  York  City 
and  the  Development  of  Trade. 


ADDITIONS  AND  CORRECTIONS 
TO  ITINERARIES 


Even  in  the  short  space  of  less  than  two  years  many  changes  have 
occurred  in  the  matter  of  historical  landmarks,  tablets,  etc.,  particularly 
in  the  boroughs  of  Manhattan  and  the  Bronx. 

These  corrections  and  additions  to  the  plates  of  the  1913  edition 
follow, — the  Routes  and  particular  localities  being  indicated  by  figures. 
It  is  hoped  in  the  next  edition  to  incorporate  in  the  plates  all  these 
changes,  as  well  as  those  in  the  various  pages  of  1912  Addenda  (viz.: 
pp.  37,  65,  83,  loi,  138,  173,  183,  198,  202,  204,  215,  231,  264,  314,  351). 

Frank  Bergen  Kelley. 

October  1914. 

MANHATTAN. 
Route  I. 

P.  20 —  io.*4  and  p.  37.*4.  Nos.  i  and  2  State  Street  have  been  demol- 
ished and  the  Eastern  Hotel  is  about  to  be  destroyed 
to  make  way  for  a  larger  structure.  The  hotel  prop- 
erty was  bought  by  John  B.  Coles,  in  1790,  from 
Anthony  Lispenard.  It  was  first  known  as  the  Eastern 
Hotel  in  1856.  Coles  was  an  Alderman,  1797-1801,  and 
a  member  of  the  Manhattan  Company. 

P.  21 —  16.  There  is  no  well-authenticated  evidence  of  the  building 
of  four  huts  on  the  site  of  41  Broadway  by  Adrian 
Block,  although  he  did  winter  on  the  island,  1613-14. 

P.  22.  Exchange  Alley  was  also  known  as  Oyster  Pasty  Alley. 

Route  3. 

P.  31.  The  mill  stones  are  set  in  the  lobby  of  the  temple,  not 

the  foundation. 

Route  4. 

P,  34 —  45.  Add.  A  stone  star  in  the  greensward  near  comfort  station 
marks  the  site  of  the  original  Revolutionary  flagstaff. 

Near  by  the  Revolutionary  cannon  formerly  at 
No.  55  Broadway  (see  p.  21 — 17)  will  be  mounted  on 
October  31,  1914.   The  tablet  reads  as  follows: 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


This  Ancient  Cannon  was  exhumed  in  1892  on  the 
site  of  No.  55  Broadway  on  the  corner  of  Exchange 
Alley  or  ''the  highway  leading  to  the  Fortification 
called  Oyster  Pasty/'  1695-1783. 

Presented  to  the  City  of  New  York 
by 

William  Henry  Mairs 
Placed  here  by  the  children  of 
THE  CITY  HISTORY  CLUB 
1914 

P.  34 —  46.  Read  ''Governor's  Island — Its  Military  History  Under 
Three  Flags,  1637-1913,"  by  the  Rev.  Edward  Banks 
Smith,  D.D.,  Chaplain  of  Governor's  Island. 

Route  5. 

P.  53.  The  Governor's  Room  is  now  known  as  the  Trumbull 

Room,  as  all  or  nearly  all  of  the  portraits  there  are 
by  that  painter.  The  Erie  punch  bowl  is  on  exhibition 
in  the  Metropolitan  Museum  of  art. 

The  portrait  of  Henry  Hudson  has  been  removed 
to  the  Aldermanic  Chamber. 

A  new  tablet  has  been  erected  in  the  west  corridor 
on  the  ground  floor  in  memory  of  Thomas  Willett, 
first  Mayor  of  New  York  (1665).  It  was  designed  by 
Henry  Bacon  and  placed  here  through  the  efforts  of 
the  City  Club  of  New  York.    It  reads : 

MDCX  THOMAS  WILLETT  mdclxxiv 

THE  FIRST  MAYOR  OF  NEW  YORK 
Under  a  patent  granted  by  James,  Duke  of  York,  he 

was  appointed  in  1665  for  a  one  year  term  by 
Governor  Richard  Nicolls  and  served  a  second  term 
in  1667 

P.  53.  A  detailed  historical  account  of  the  City  Hall  was  pub- 

lished, pp.  300-310  of  the  1912  Report  of  the  American 
Scenic  and  Historic  Preservation  Society.  The  build- 
ing has  been  thoroughly  renovated  and  restored 
through  gifts  of  Mrs.  Russell  Sage. 

P.  54.  The  City  Hall  tablet  and  standard  yard  measure  have  been 

removed  to  the  basement  corridor.  The  Bureau  of 
vi  h 


TERCENTENARY  EDITION 


Licenses  has  been  consolidated  with  the  office  of  the 
Commissioner  of  Licenses  and  has  been  removed.  The 
Bureau  of  Marriage  Licenses  is  now  in  the  Municipal 
Building. 

P,  55.  A  new  fountain  has  been  planned  to  take  the  place  of  this 

one.    It  is  the  bequest  of  Angeline  Crane  and  will  be 
called  the  Angeline  Crane  Fountain. 
P.  57 —  13.    Dolan's  Restaurant  was  torn  down,  1913,  to  make  way 
for  a  larger  structure. 

Route  6. 

19.  The  larger  portion  of  the  Astor  House  was  removed  in 
1913-14  on  account  of  the  new  subway  construction. 

21.  The  King's  College  tablet  has  been  removed  (1914)  tem- 
porarily, pending  the  erection  of  a  new  building  on  the 
site. 

22.  The  Market  tablet  has  been  temporarily  stored  pending 
some  changes  in  construction. 

23.  The  visible  remains  of  the  well  have  been  removed. 

Route  7. 

P.  61.  ^laiden  Lane.    Read  "The  Maid  of  Maiden  Lane,"  by 

Amelia  E.  Barr ;  ''The  Story  of  Maiden  Lane,"  by  ' 
Albert  Ulmann  in  "The  Jeweler's  Weekly." 

P-  63 —  38-    The  date  of  the  fight  about  the  liberty  pole  should  be 
January  18. 

The  old  court  and  rear  buildings  at  59  Ann  Street 
have  been  covered  over  by  a  new  structure. 
P.  64.  Insert  bottom  of  page — Old  house  at  41  Cherry  Street, 

erected  1786,  on  property  sold  in  1742  by  Israel  Hors- 
feld  to  John  Latham,  a  famous  shipwright. 

Route  8. 

The  recent  widening  of  Varick  Street  and  its  ex- 
tension to  connect  with  Seventh  Avenue  has  caused 
the  removal  of  many  old  buildings,  particularly  the 
following : 

P.  76 —  12.    Bedford  Street  Methodist  Church; 

17.    Spring  Street  Church  to  be  removed  across  the  street. 
P.  81 —  28.    Former  house  of  Tom  Paine  at  309  Bleecker  Street. 

vi  i 


p.  59- 


p.  60— 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Route  9. 

P.  78.  A  tablet  was  erected  in  1914  at  198  Hudson  Street,  corner 

of  Desbrosses  Street,  by  the  Sons  of  the  American 
Revolution  to  mark  the  site  of  the  Lispenard  House, 
where  "General  George  Washington  was  entertained, 
June  25,  1775,  while  en  route  from  Philadelphia  to 
Cambridge,  to  assume  command  of  the  Continental 
Army. 

The  stone  bridge  across  the  Canal  at  Broadway  was 
built  in  1786-7  on  the  order  of  the  Street  Commissioner. 
P.  78 —  22.    The   small  structure  on  the  roof  of  the  Ericsson  house 
has  been  destroyed. 

Route  10. 

P.  81 —  28.    The  Paine  House  has  been  demolished. 

Route  II. 

P.  89 —   2.    The  original  church  here  was  built  before  1660. 

The  land  was  given  to  Trinity  in  1793. 

Governor  Tompkins'  initials  should  be  D.  D.,  not  D.  T. 

Route  12. 

P.  98 —  23.    The  Manhattan  Tank  has  finally  been  removed  (1914). 

Route  13. 

P.  99 —  32.  This  is  no  longer  used  as  a  school.  When  erected  in 
1839-40  (4th  story  1854),  it  was  called  "a.  spacious  and 
substantial  edifice." 

P,  I02.*9.       The  date  1911  should  be  1811  for  P.  S.  No.  2. 

Route  14. 

P.  108 —    8.    The  Grapevine  has  been  torn  down. 

Route  15. 

P.  114.  In  the  Hotel  McAlpin,  34th  Street  and  Broadway,  may  be 

seen  a  series  of  tapestries  showing  historic  scenes  in 
New  York  City. 

Route  17. 

P.  117 —    4.    See  article  on  Bryant  Park  on  pp.  319-342  in  the  1912  Re- 
port of  the  American  Scenic  and  Historic  Preservation 
Society. 

P.  120.  The   Park   Department   has   left   the   Arsenal   for  the 

Municipal  .Building. 

vi/ 


TERCENTENARY  EDITION 


Route  i8. 

P.  123 —  12.  The  Bloomingdale  Dutch  Reformed  Church  was  sold  in 
1913  to  be  replaced  by  an  apartment  house. 

Route  19. 

P.  125 —  I.  The  Carrigan  House  is  now  used  as  an  inn  and  road 
house. 

Route  20. 

P.  136.  See  article  on  Blackwell's  Island  on  p.  177  of  1912  Report 

of  the  American   Scenic  and  Historic  Preservation 
Society. 

P.  130  (top  of  p.).  The  tablet  proposed  for  Mrs.  Lowell  has  not  been  put 
in  place. 

Route  22. 

P.  149 —  37.  The  new  park  at  Third  Avenue  and  129th  Street  had 
recently  (1913)  been  named  Kuyter  Park  for  the 
original  setiler  here. 

Route  23. 

P.  151 —  41.  A  memorial  stained  glass  window  by  LaFarge  to  the 
memory  of  the  actress,  Mrs.  Gilbert,  has  been  placed  in 
the  Hamilton  Grange  Reformed  Church  at  149th  Street 
and  Convent  Avenue. 

P.  152.  '"Carmansville"  centered  originally  about  West  One  Hun- 

dred and  Fifty-second  vStreet.  There  was  a  station 
here  of  the  Hudson  River  R.  R.  and  an  old  dock  at 
which  boats  for  Yonkers,  Tarrytown,  etc.,  stopped. 

P.  169 —  73,  and  p.  181.  See  on  the  southern  end  of  the  low  viaduct  on 
Broadway  crossing  what  was  once  part  of  Spuyten 
Duyvil  Creek  (now  filled  in),  a  tablet  erected  in  1914 
by  the  Empire  State  Society,  S.  A.  R.,  to  commemorate 
the  original  King's  Bridge  which  stood  within  600  feet^^ 
west  of  it. 

Route  27. 

P.  169 —  74.    The  flagpole  and  notice  board  have  recently  disappeared. 

Route  28b. 

P.  172 —  98.  Some  say  this  Dyckman  House  was  built  in  1783;  Jan 
Dyckman,  the  original  patentee,  came  from  Bentheim 
in  Westphalia, 

vi  k  . 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


P-  1/3*3.  The  date  of  the  drowning  should  be  October  i,  1910. 
P.  173*4.        The  page  reference  is  161  not  151. 


THE  BRONX. 

P.  179.  Shonard  should  be  Shonnard. 

''Battle  of  Pell's  Point  or  Pelham  by  Abbatt." 

Route  29. 

P.  182 —  6.  Maj.  General  Porter  was  for  many  years  Adjutant-Gen- 
eral of  the  State  of  New  York. 

P.  183*3.  For  an  account  of  the  region  of  Nipinichsen  see  1909  Re- 
port American  Scenic  and  Historic  Preservation  So- 
ciety. 

Route  30a. 

P.  190 —  33.    Fort  No.  Four  was  marked  by  a  tablet  (1914)  erected  by 
the  Daughters  of  the  Revolution  State  of  New  York. 
35.    The  Montgomery  Cottage  is  at  No.  3489  Fort  Independ- 
ence Street. 

Route  30b. 

P.  193.  There  is  a  statue  of  a  Union  Soldier  in  the  Bronx  River 

near  Williamsbridge.  The  story  goes  that  it  was  cut 
for  a  gravestone  by  the  stone  cutter  (at  the  rear  of 
whose  garden  it  stands)  but  it  was  rejected. 

Route  31. 

P.  196 —  54.    The  spelling  should  be  Barretto. 

P.  197 —  57,  p.  205 — 92,  and  p.  211 — 116.    Reference  here  should  be  to 

General  (not  Lord)  Howe. 
P.  197 —  58.    The  Hunt  Mansion  was  torn  dov/n  about  1911. 

Route  32. 

P.  199 —  62.  The  W.  H.  Morris  Mansion  and  grounds  have  been  ac- 
quired by  the  Daughters  of  Jacob.  A  home  for  the 
a^ed  and  intirm  is  to  be  erected  here.  The  mansion  is 
now  being  used  as  a  synagogue. 

P.  201 —  69.  The  Poe  Cottage  has  been  moved  into  Poe  Park  and  pre- 
served as  a  historical  museum. 

Route  33. 

P.  203 —  85.  The  English  officer  referred  to  was  Admiral  (Lord) 
Howe. 

vi/ 


TERCENTENARY  EDITION 


Route  33a. 

r.  207—  96.    (Abbatt  not  Abbot.) 

97.    The  Bowne  Store  dates  from  1816. 

Route  34. 

P.  209.  Direction.    Bartozu  is  now  called  ''City  Island  Station"; 

better  rapid  transit  facilities  have  been  provided  here. 

P.  210 — 106.    Macedonian  not  Macedonia.    (See  *I3,  p.  215.) 

107.  This  property  was  conveyed  by  Thos.  Pell  to  John  Bartow 
and  his  wife  Ann  Pell.  The  present  house  was  built  in 
1820  and  is  now  owned  by  the  city.  See  American 
Scenic  and  Historic  Preservation  Society  Report,  1912. 

P.  211 — 113.  One  of  Anne  Hutchinson's  sons  was  saved  by  being  in 
Boston  at  the  time  of  the  massacre.  The  tablet  was 
removed  by  vandals  in  1914. 


Route  34a. 

P.  213 — 123.  The  complete  poem  is  quoted  in  Jenkin's  Bronx,  pp.  306-7, 
The  story  is  somewhat  mythical. 
126.  Near  the  15th  Milestone  (now  replaced  by  the  Bronx 
Borough  President)  is  a  simple  tablet  set  in  a  culvert 
jusf  east  of  Burke  Street.  It  was  excavated  during  the 
road  building  here  and  has  some  relation  to  old  town- 
ship boundaries  here. 

P.  214.  East  Chester  (usually  spelled  in  two  words  to-day)  may 

now  be  reached  easily  via  the  new  New  York,  West- 
chester and  Boston  Electric  R.  R.  connecting  with  the 
Third  Ave.  Elevated  R.  R.  at  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-ninth  Street,  or  reached  from  the  subway 
station  at  One  Hundred  and  Eightieth  Street ;  the 
nearest  station  of  the  new  railroad  is  at  "Kingsbridge 
Road." 

132.    St.  Paul's  was  built  1761-5,  and  was  used  only  for  a  short 
time  as  a  military  hospital. 
P.  215*12.       The  Bowne  house  was  burned  in  1909.   It  was  built  origi- 
nally (1730)  on  the  site  of  the  Pell  Manor  House. 
*I5.       The  Crawford  Tavern  was  built  by  the  Fays,  who  settled 
here  in  1732  and  still  own  it.  (Jenkins.) 


VI  ni 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


BROOKLYN. 

P.  226.  Addenda. — The   name  here  should  be  Elbert  Elbertse 

Stoothoff. 

Route  35b. 

P.  231.  Addenda. — The  Duryee  House  could  not  have  been  occu- 

pied by  Washington;  it  is  between  Humbold  Street 
and  Graham  Avenue, 

Route  35c. 

P.  234 —    7.    The  red  house  has  disappeared. 

Route  36. 

P.  242.  In  September,  1914,  a  tablet  was  placed  on  the  Harriet 

Judson  Memorial,  Y.  W.  C.  A.,  at  50  Nevins  Street,  to 
commemorate  the  One  Hundredth  Anniversary  of  the 
erection  by  the  members  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity  of 
Fort  Masonic,  as  part  of  the  defences  of  New  York 
City  during  the  War  of  1812-15. 

Route  40. 

P.  250 —    7.    The  mill  was  built  about  1656  (not  1636). 

QUEENS. 
Route  48. 

P.  294 —  59.    Some  say  the  Coe  Farmhouse  dates  back  to  1655. 

Route  49. 

P.  297 —  I.  It  is  claimed  that  the  Moore  House  was  used  as  General 
Howe's  headquarters  and  that  the  Duke  of  Clarence 
(later  King  William  IV)  stayed  here. 

P.  300 —  29.    Bloom  house  torn  down  about  1912-13. 

P.  306 —  14.    The  Bowne  Homestead  was  built  in  1661. 

P-3I5  (top  of  page).  The  buttonwood  tree  is  18  feet  in  circumference, 
not  diameter. 

P.  316*12.       The  Bloodgood  Homestead  must  have  been  built  after 

RICHMOND. 
Route  53. 

P-330 —  23.  A  tal)let  was  erected  in  the  church,  1012,  to  the  memory 
of  Major  William  Bernard  Gifford,  Third  Reg't  N.  J., 
Continental  Line,  by  the  Staten  Island  Chapter,  D.  A.  R. 


TERCENTENARY  EDITION 


Route  54. 

333 —  37-  The  Christopher  Homestead  was  built  ])y  Nicholas  Chris- 
topher and  owned  b}'  his  son  Joseph  during  the  Revo- 
tion. 

P.  337 —  58.    The  Garibaldi  House  is  falling  into  ruins  through  neglect. 
P.  338 —  61.    A  National  Indian  Monument  was  erected  here  in  1913 
bearing  the  following  inscription : 

HERE  ON  AQUEHONGA-MANACKNONG,  22 
FEBRUARY,  1913.  THE  PRESIDENT  OF  THE 
UNITED  STATES.  WILLIAM  HOWARD  TAFT, 
MARKED  THIS  SITE  FOR  THE  NATIONAL 
MONUMENT  TO  THE  NORTH  AMERICAN 
INDIAN  INAUGURATED  UNDER  THE  AUS- 
PICES OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMERICAN  IN- 
DIAN MEMORIAL  ASSOCIATION  WITH  THE 
CO-OPERATION  OF  THE  AMERICAN  SCENIC 
AND  HISTORIC  PRESERVATION  SOCIETY. 

Route  60. 

P.  349 — 107.    The  Billopp  House  was  probably  not  built  until  1688. 
P.  386.  Split  Rock  Tablet  was  removed  by  vandals  in  1914. 


\  1  0 


SECOND  EDITION 


DEDICATED  BY 


THE  CITY  HISTORY  CLUB 
(by  permission) 


TO 


illr£(.  Robert  aiifae 

Founder  and  long  President  of  The  City 
History  Club  of  New  York 


HISTORIC  TRACES  COMMITTEE 


OF 

THE  CITY  HISTORY  CLUB  OF  NEW  YORK: 

Editors   of   the   Historical  Guide 
Reginald  Pelham  Bolton.  Edward  Hagaman  Hall. 

Associate  Editors 
Randall  Comfort  Hopper  Striker  !Mott. 

Charles  A.  Ditmas.  George  W.  Nash. 

Robert  E.  Parsons.  August  R.  Oh  man. 

Charles  R.  Lamb.  Albert  Ulmann. 

Frank  Bergen  Kelley,  Chairman. 

Corresponding  ^Iembers 
Thomas  J.  Burton.  J.  H.  Innes. 

Thanks  are  due  for  special  aid  in  securing  information  and  for  the 
use  of  material  to :  Frank  Warren  Crane,  William  T.  Davis,  Henry 
Russell  Drowne,  Charles  Hemstreet,  Thomas  A.  Janvier,  Ira  K. 
^lorris,  Josiah  C.  Pumpelly,  Frederick  Van  WVck  and  many  other 
students   of  local  history. 

Cartographers:    August  R.  Ohman,  Reginald  Pelham  Bolton. 

Draughtsmen :  Morris  W.  Ehrlich,  Charles  Kandel. 

For  permission  to  copy  maps,  thanks  are  due  to :  Edward  Haga- 
man Hall,  John  H.  Innes,  A.  Meserole,  Harper  Bros.,  W.  W.  ^lun- 
sell,  G.  P.  Putnam's  Sons,  Chas.  Scribner's  Sons  and  Henry  Dunreath 
Tyler. 

Official  Photographer:  Frank  F.  Evans. 

Photographs  have  been  contributed  by  Randall  Comfort,  C.  Irv- 
ing Jones  and  George  W.  Nash.  Other  illustrations  have  been  used 
by  courtesy  of  the  Century  History  Company,  G.  P.  Putnam's  Sons, 
and  the  Long  Island  Historical  Society. 

viii 


PREFACE 


The  H'sforical  Guide  to  Nczv  York  is  the  result  of  prolonged  ef- 
forts on  the  part  of  the  City  History  Club  of  Xezu  York  to  discover 
and  to  direct  attention  to  the  yet  visible  traces  of  earlier  times  which 
lie  hidden  within  and  are  fast  disappearing  from  the  city  of  to-day. 

\\'hen  the  society  was  founded  in  1896  to  promote  good  citizenship 
through  the  study  of  history  and  civics  and  by  the  establishment  of 
self-governing  clubs,  the  need  was  felt  for  a  systematic  survey  of  and 
guide  to  the  history  of  New  York  City  in  a  simple  and  convenient 
form.  In  order  to  meet  this  necessity  the  Club  first  published,  un- 
der the  direction  of  a  number  of  well-known  writers.  The  Half 
Moon  Papers,  a  series  of  monographs  which  were  afterward  incor- 
porated in  two  volumes  entitled  Historic  Xcw  York.  During  the 
past  thirteen  years,  twelve  Excursion  Leaflets  have  been  prepared, 
designed  to  provide,  at  the  lowest  possible  price,  a  brief  but  carefully 
verified  historical  description  of  every  part  of  the  city,  compiled  as 
far  as  possible  from  original  sources.  These  pamphlets  have  been 
extensively  utilized  by  members  of  the  junior  clubs,  some  of  whom 
have  by  their  use  become  competent  as  trained,  and  in  a  few  cases,  pro- 
fessional guides;  by  the  children  of  the  public  and  private  schools  of 
the  five  boroughs;  and  by  many  other  persons  who  believe,  as  does 
the  writer,  that  familiarity  with  the  history  of  one's  own  city  leading 
to  a  knowledge  and  love  of  the  city  itself  is  the  foundation  of  true 
civic  patriotism.  The  information  thus  gathered  is  now  presented  in 
complete  form,  thoroughly  revised  and  illustrated  by  maps  and  photo- 
graphs. 

On  behalf  of  the  City  History  Club  and  on  my  own  part,  T  thank 
the  many  faithful  friends  of  the  organization  who  have  contributed 
of  their  time  and  knowledge  to  the  compilation  of  this  work.  Some  ^ 
of  their  names  may  be  found  recorded  on  another  page,  but  the  full 
measure  of  skill  and  devotion  which  they  have  so  generously  expended 
can  never  be  recorded. 

It  is  the  sincere  hope  of  the  founder  of  the  City  History  Club  that 
this  book  may  prove  of  real  service  to  all  those  who  desire  to  know 
the  city  better  and  to  work  more  effectively  for  its  future  good. 

Catharine  A.  B.  Abbe. 

Brook  End,  Bar  Harbor,  July  5th,  1909. 

ix 


EXPLANATORY 


EXCURSIONS:  the  original  twelve  itineraries  still  issued  as  sepa- 
rate leaflets  and  numbered  in  the  order  of  their  issue.  These  are 
now  arranged  in  order  of  topography,  beginning  with  lower  Manhat- 
tan. 

ROUTES :  the  Excursions  have  been  divided  into  Sections,  each  of 
which  covers  sufficient  territory  for  an  itinerary  of  about  two  hours. 
Prefixed  to  the  Section  numbers  are  Route  numbers  (running  con- 
secutively from  I  to  60)  which  are  also  placed  at  the  head  of  each 
page  (abbreviation  R). 

TYPE.  Bold  faced  type  is  used  for  landmarks,  tablets  or  other 
memorials  in  existence  at  the  time  of  publication  (1909). 

Italics  indicate  directions  in  routes ;   historic  sites. 

Small  type  indicates  general  historical  accounts,  descriptions  of  historic  build- 
ings which  have  no  visible  trace  or  memorial.  Small  Capitals  in  such 
type  indicate  some  place  of  importance  represented  by  a  name  or  memorial. 

KEY  MAPS  show  the  approximate  location  of  the  various  Routes, 
the  numbers  thereon  corresponding  to  Route  numbers. 

PLATES :  with  but  four  exceptions  the  maps  and  diagrams  have 
been  specially  prepared  or  redrawn  for  this  Guide  Book. 

The  ILLUSTRATIONS  in  the  text  are  from  the  set  published  by 
the  City  History  Club;  the  full  page  inserts,  with  one  exception,  are 
from  original  photographs  taken  for  the  Guide  Book. 

NOTES :  blank  pages  for  original  notes  are  placed  at  the  end  of 
each  Excursion,  as  changes  in  New  York  City  are  so  rapid,  the  old 
giving  place  to  the  new,  that  accounts  of  landmarks  must  be  con- 
stantly amended. 

SECOND  EDITION:—*  refers  to  Addenda  and  Corrections  in- 
serted at  the  end  of  the  various  Routes,  etc. 


X 


INTRODUCTION  TO  THE  SECOND  EDITION 


Since  1909  many  historic  buildings  have  been  destroyed,  new  monu- 
ments, statues  and  tablets  have  been  erected,  new  streets  and  parks 
have  been  opened  and  some  street  names  have  been  changed.  More- 
over, errors  in  the  first  edition  have  been  discovered  and  much  additional 
matter  added.  The  changes  in  the  Bronx  have  been  so  great  that  nearly 
all  the  maps  had  to  be  redrawn.  Plates  V,  XII  and  LXVII  have  also 
been  redrawn. 

In  order  to  save  the  expense  of  making  entirely  new  electroplates, 
corrections  and  additions  to  the  text  have  been  inserted  at  the  end  of 
the  various  Routes,  reference  to  them  being  made  by  means  of  asterisks. 

Part  VI  has  been  condensed  and  the  Bronx  portion  rewritten : 
Appendix  D  has  been  entirely  rewritten  and  the  Index  has  been 
thoroughly  revised.  Thinner  paper  has  been  used  in  order  to  make 
the  book  lighter  and  more  portable. 

The  compiler  and  the  editors  welcome  criticisms  and  suggestions, 
as  they  desire  to  make  the  work  thoroughly  reliable  and  complete. 

Fr.\xk  Bergex  Kellev. 

February,  1913. 


Xl 


GENERAL  BIBLIOGRAPHY 


History  of  the  City  of  New  York,"  by  ]Martha  J.  Lamb. 

"  History  of  the  City  of  New  York,"  by  'Mrs.  Burton  Harrison 
(completing  Lamb's  History  to  1896). 

The  Memorial  History  of  the  City  of  New  York,"  edited  by 
James  Grant  Wilson. 

"  Leslie's  History  of  New  York,"  edited  by  Dr.  Van  Pelt. 

"  New  York,"  (Historic  Towns  Series)  by  Theodore  Roosevelt. 

"  Story  of  the  City  of  New  York,"  (Great  Cities  of  the  Republic 
Series)  by  Charles  Burr  Todd. 

"  A  Brief  History  of  the  City  of  New  York,"  by  Charles  Burr  Todd. 

For  a  brief  classified  bibliography,  see  Ulmann's  "  Landmark  His- 
tory of  New  York." 

For  an  exhaustive  bibliography,  see  Bulletin  24  (35  cents)  issued 
by  the  State  Department  at  Albany. 

See  also  bibliographies  at  the  beginning  of  each  Excursion. 

'The  Dutch  Schools  of  New  Netherland  and  Colonial  New  York" 
(Bull.  12,  1912,  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Education),  by  Wm.  Heard  Kilpatrick. 

''History  of  the  City  of  New  Yo-k  in  the  Seventeenth  Century."  by 
Mrs.  Schuyler  Van  Rensselaer. 

Annual  Reports  of  the  American  Scenic  and  Historic  Preservation 
Society. 


xii 


CONTENTS 


PACE 


The  Seal  of  New  York  City  ix  1787   iii 

Preface   i-^ 

Explanatory   >^  . 

IXTRODUCTIOX  TO  THE   SeCOXD  EdITIOX   xi 

Gexeral  Bibliography   xii 

PART  ONE— MANHATTAN   i 

New  York's  Development   3 

Route    I.    Bowling   Green    (Excursion    VII)      .      ...  11 

Route    2.    Trinity  Church  and  Wall  Street   23 

Route    3.    Pearl  and  Broad  Streets   30 

Route    4.    The  Battery  and  Governor's  Island    ....  33 

Fraunces  Tavern  {Excursion  VI)   39 

Route    5.    City  Hall  Park  and  Vicinity  {Excursion  I)     .  49 

Route    6.    St.  Paul's  to  Wall  Street   :8 

Route    7.    Wall  Street  to  Franklin  Square   61 

Route    8.    Greenwich  Village   {Excursion  II)     .     ...  69. 

Route    9.    Lispenard's  IMeadows   77 

Route  10.    \\"a:5hington    Square   and   Vicinity     .      ...  80 

Route  II.    Bowery  Village  {Excursion  III)   85 

Route  12.    The  Bowery,  Chatham  Square  and  Collect  Pond  95 

Route  13.    Corlaer's  Hook  and  Grand  Street  to  Broadway  99 

Route  14.    Union  Square  to  Gramcrcy  Park  {Excursion  103 

Route  15.    ^Madison  Square  and  Vicinity   in 

Route  16.    Love  Lane  and  Chelsea  Village   115 

Route  17.    Murray    Hill   to   Central    Park   117 

Route  18.    Bloomingdale  and  Hamilton  Burr  Duelling  Ground  121 

Route  19.    ]\Iorningside   Heights   and   INIanhattanville    .     .  125  ^ 

Battle  of  Harlem  Heights   I-8 

Side  Trip  to  Fort  Lee   131 

Route  20.    Kip's  Bay  to  Horn's  Hook   I33 

The  East  River  Islands   136 

Route  21.    Northern    Central    Park    (Excursion   IV)     .     .  141 

Route  22.    Nieuw  Haerlem   I47 

Route  23.    Hamilton  Grange  to   Fort  George     .     .     .     .  15 1 

xiii 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 


Washington's  Headquarters  (Morris  or  Jumel  Mansion)    .  156 

Route  24.    Fort   Washington   161 

Route  25.    Fort  Washington  Monument  to  Fort  Washing- 
ton Park   165 

Route  26.    Fort  Tryon   167 

Route  27.    Kingsbridge  to  Inwood   168 

Route  28a.  Colonial  and  Revolutionary  Sites  east  of  Broad- 
way   ...  170 

Route  28b.  West  of  Broadway  to  Cold  Spring    ....  171 

PART  TWO— BOROUGH  OF  THE  BRONX   176 

Historical  Sketch  of  the  Bronx     .   179 

Route  29.  Kingsbridge  to  the  City  Line  {Excursion  IX)  .  181 
Route  29a.  Two    Hundred    and    Forty-second    Street  to 

Yonkers   184 

Route  29b.  Western  Bronx   185 

Route  30.    Central  Bridge  to  University  Heights     .     .     .  187 

Route  30a.  University  Heights  to  Jerome  Park  Reservoir   .  190 

Route  30b.  Williamsbridge   and   Wakefield   191 

Route  31.    Harlem   River  to   Hunt's   Point   195 

Route  32.    Western  Morrisania,  Fordham  and  Bronx  Park  199 

Route  33.    Throgg's  Neck   203 

Route  33a.  Westchester  Village   205 

Route  34.    City  Island  and  Pelham  Bay  Park     ....  209 

Route  34a.  Eastern  Morrisania,  West  Farms  and  Eastchester  212 

PART   THREE— BOROUGH   OF   BROOKLYN     ....  219 

Historical   Sketch   of   Brooklyn    {Excursion   XII)     .     .     .  225 

Route  35a.  Williamsburg   227 

Route  35b.  Greenpoint   229 

Route  35c.  Bushwick   232 

Route  36.    Brooklyn  Heights  to  Borough  Hall  {Excursion 

VIII)  '   241 

Route  37.    Fulton  Street,  Fort  Greene  Park  and  the  Navy 

ard   243 

Route  38.    Prospect   Park   245 

Route  39.    Flatbush   247 

Route  40.    Flatlands   249 

Route  41.    New  Lots,  East  New  York  and  Canarsie    .     .  253 

Route  42.    Brooklyn  Bridge  to  Fort  Hamilton     .     ...  257 

Route  43.    New  Utrecht   259 

xiv 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

Route  43a.  Gravesend  and  Coney  Island   261 

Notes  on  Flatlands   263 

PART  FOUR— BOROUGH   OF  QUEENS   269 

Historical  Sketch  of  Queens  (Excursion  XI)   274 

Route  44.    Hunter's  Point  and  Stcinway  to  North  Beach    .  277 

Route  45.    Astoria  to  Steinway   281 

Route  46.    Maspeth  and  Laurel  Hill     .     .     .     .     .     .     .  287 

Route  46a.  South   on   Flushing   Avenue   289 

Route  47.    Hunter's  Point  and  Woodside  to  Corona    .     .  291 

Route  48.    Corona  to  Coe's   Mill     .   294 

Route  49.    Elmhurst   (Newtown)     .     .     ......  297 

Route  50.    Middle  Village   295 

Route  51.    Flushing   304 

Route  52.    Jamaica   310 

PART  FIVE— BOROUGH  OF  RICHMOND   319 

Historical  Sketch  of  Staten  Island  {Excursion  X)     .     .     .  324 

Route  53.    St.  George  to  Holland's  Hook   327 

Route  54.    St.  George  to  New  Springville   333 

Route  55.    St.  George  to  Arrochar   335 

Route  56.    New  Dorp   339 

Route  57.    Elm  Tree  Light    342 

Route  58.    Richrrsond  Village   343 

Route  59.    Greenridge  and  Great  Kills   345 

Route  59a.  Rossville   and   Woodrow   347 

Route  60.    Tottenville   349 

Route  6oa.  Princess  Bay                                                    .  350 

PART  SIX— SPECIAL  ROUTES   355 

A.  Routes  for  Children   357 

B.  Water  Routes   360 

C.  Carriage  and  Automobile  Routes   362 

APPENDICES  > 

A.  The  Milestones  and  the  Old  Post  Road   371 

^Milestones  in  Bloom ingdale   375 

B.  Historical  Monuments,  Statues  and  Tablets    ....  377 

C.  Notable  Historic  Buildings   391 

D.  Museums,   Collections  and  Libraries   395 

E.  Historic  Trees,  Rocks  and  Other  Objects   403 

I^'dex   409 

XV 


LIST  OF  DIAGRAMS  AND  :\IAPS 


PAGE 


I.  Key  ]\Iap,  Borough  of  Manhattan   2 

II.  Duke's  Map,  1661-5  to  face  6 

III.  The  Lyne-Bradford  Map,   1728     .     .     .    to  face  6 

IV.  New  Amsterdam,  1644   12 

V.  Routes  i,  2,  3,  4    ....   13 

VL  Trinity  Churchyard   24 

VII.  Governor's   Island   34 

VIII.  Region  of  Fraunces  Tavern,  Showing  Changes  in 

Water  Line   40 

IX.  Holland  Map,  1776   50 

X.  Routes  5,  6,  7   50a 

XI.  City  Hall  Park   52 

XIL  St.    Paul's   Churchyard                                      .  58 

XIII.  Part  of  ]\Iontressor  'Map  of  1775  :  Greenwich  and 

Environs   70 

XIV.  Routes  8  and  10    ...   74 

XV.  Anneke  Jans  Farm   77 

XVI.  Routes   8,   9   79 

XVII.  Portion  of  Ratzer  Map,  1767   86 

XVIII.  Bouwerie  Village   88 

XIX.  Route  ii                                                             .  90 

XX.  Routes  12,  13   96 

XXL  Routes  14,  15,  16   104 

XXIL  Route  17   118 

XXIIL  Route  18   122 

XXIV.  Route  19,  Battle  of  Harlem  Hzights    ....  128 

XXV.  Route  20   132 

XXVL  McGown's  Pass  and  Vicinity,  1776   142 

XXVII.  Route  22,  Nieuw  Haerlem   T48 

XXVni.  Route  23   152 

XXIX.  Routes  23,   24,  25   160 

XXX.  Fort  Washington  and  its  Related  Fortifications  162 

XXXI.  Routes  23,  26,  28a                                              .  166 

XXXII.  Routes  27,  28a,  28b   168 

xvi 


PAGE 

XXXIII.  Key  Map  to  the  Bronx   178 

XXXIV,  Routes  29,  29a,  29b   180 

XXXV.  Routes  30,  31,  32,  34a   186 

XXXVI.  Routes  30,  30a,  30b,  32   188 

XXX VI I.  Routes  30b,  34a   192 

XXXVIII.  Routes  31,  33,  34a   19 1 

XXXIX.  Routes  32,  34a   200 

XL.  Routes  33,  33a   206 

XLI.  Route  34   2c8  . 

XLII.  Key  Map  to  Brooklyn  and  Queens   220 

XLI  1 1.  Battle  of  Long  Island   224 

XLIV.  Route  35   228 

XLV.  Greenpoint   2j,o 

XLVI.  Route  35c   233 

XLVII.  Route  36   240 

XLVIII.  Route  37   24  ^ 

XLIX.  Routes  38,  39   216 

L.  Route  40   250 

LI.  Route  41   252 

LI  I.  Routes  42,  43   256 

LIII.  Route  43a   261 

LIV.  Old  Tracts  and  Roads  in  X^ewtown     ....  272 

LV.  Routes  44,  47   276  - 

LVI.  Route  45   282 

LVII.  Route  46   286 

LVI  1 1.  Routes  47,  48,  50   290 

LIX.  Route  49   298 

LX.  Route  51   305 

LXI.  Route  52   310 

LXII.  Modern  Jamaica   311 

LXIII.  Key  Map  to  Richmond   322 

LXIV.  Route  53   326 

LXV.  Route  54   332 

LXVI.  Route  55   336 

LXVII.  Routes  56,  57,  58   340 

LXVIIT.  Route  58   343 

LXIX.  Route  59   346 

LXX.  Routes  60,  6oa   348 


xvii  ^ 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 

Manhattan,  1606;  1909     .    .    .    ,    .    .    ,    .    .    .  .Frontispiece 

The  Fort  in  Kieft's  Day   4 

The  Block  House  and  City  Gate   5 

Broad  Street  Canal   6 

The  Purchase  of  Manhattan   16 

Bowling  Green  and  the  Battery    .   18 

Bowling  Green  and  the  Custom  House,  1909    .     .     .facing  page  18 

English  City  Hall  and  Trinity  Church   27 

The  Stadt  Huys,  i6;?9  facing  pag^  31 

The  Clermont,  1807   36 

Former  Appearance  of  Fraunces  Tavern                                     .  42 

Fraunces  Tavern,  1909;  Washington's  Farewell    .    facing  page  46 

Fraunces  Tavern,  1904   47 

City  Hall,  1909  facing  page  48 

Croton  Water  Procession,  1842   56 

Sappokanican   72 

St.  John's  Chapel    .     .     .  x 

Minetta  Street  ( 

95  Morton  Slreet    ...  i 
Hudson  near  Watts  Street. 

Collect  Pond   94 

Hamilton  Grange,  1804   150 

Washington's  Headquarters,  1909  facing  page  156 

Van  Cortlandt   Mansion  facing  page  180 

St.  Paul's  Church,  Eastchester  )                                r    •      .  o 

Poe  Cottage,  Fordham    .    .    f ^"""^  ^"^^  '^8 

Fulton  Ferry,  1746   222 

Schenck  House.  Carnarsie  Park  ...» 

Van  Nuyse-Magaw  Homestead,  Flatlands    (   ^     ^    ^^^.^^  ^^^^ 

Van  Wyck  House,  Flatlands  C 

Van  Brunt  House,  New  Lots    .    .    .    .  ' 


facing  page  72 


xviii 


Van  Derveer  Mill  Wheel  . 

Gerritsen  Tide  Mill,  Flatlands   /  '  . 

Lott  Smoke  House,  Flatlands    [ ^"'"'^  ^"^^  ^^o 


facing  page  274 


Hand  Made  Shingles 
King  Mansion,  Jamaica  . 
Moore    House,  Elmhurst  . 
Bowne  Homestead,  Flushing 
Quaker  Ivleeting  House,  Flushing  / 
Guyon-Clarke  House,  New  Dorp 

Lake-Tysen  House,  Karles  Neck  .  /  .  . 

Christopher  House,  Willow  Brook  J  •  •  •  •  ^"^'"^  P"^'^  324 
Moravian  Church,  New  Dorp    .  / 

Billopp  House,  Tottenville  facing  page  348 

15  Milestone  ... 

9  Milestone    .     .     .     .  / 

I  Milestone    .    .     .     .  t  ^"^"'^  t""^'  372 

New  Utrecht  Milestone  ^ 

Eleventh  ^Milestone  Unveiling,  May  30,  1912  370 


xix 


PART  ONE 

MANHATTAN 

Excursions  VII,  VI,  I,  II,  III,  V  and  IV. 
Routes  1—28 


PART   ONE:  MANHATTAN. 


NEW   YORK'S  DEVELOPMENT 

AS  SHOWN  BY  THE 

TRACES  OF  OLD  ROADS  AND  STREETS. 

By  Albert  Ulmann. 

Author  of  ''A  Landmark  History  of  New  York." 

Tradition  furnishes  an  account  to  the  effect  that  the  first  habita- 
tions of  white  men  on  the  Island  of  Manhattan  consisted  of  four 
houses  or  huts  erected  in  1613  on  a  site  now  known  as  41  Broadway 
where  a  bronze  tablet  commemorates  this  interesting  circumstance. 
From  this  simple  beginning  the  settlement  grew  until  some  thirty 
cabins,  clustered  near  the  southern  end  of  the  island,  constituted  the 
little  town.  Then  a  general  conflagration  took  place  and  much  damage 
was  done. 

Before  this  first  of  the  great  fires  that  have  visited  Manhattan,  in 
1626,  the  lines  of  a  fort  were  laid  out,  occupying  the  site  of  the 
present  Custom  House,  the  work  being  completed  in  1633-5.  Iri  those 
days  the  shore  line  was  less  extended  than  at  present  so  that  the  fort 
easily  commanded  the  entrance  to  both  the  Hudson  and  East  Rivers, 
the  water  coming  up  to  the  line  of  the  present  State  Street.  Fort 
Amsterdam,  as  the  work  was  called,  built  of  earth  and  stone  and  hav- 
ing four  bastions,  rose  proudly  above  the  group  of  small  houses  and 
became  the  distinctive  feature  of  New  Amsterdam.  In  the  earliest 
views  of  the  settlement,  such  as  that  of  Joost  Hartger  published  in 
1651,  it  stands  forth  as  the  dominating  landmark  of  the  little  hamlet 
that  occupied  the  southern  end  of  the  Island  of  Manhattan.  The  main 
gate  of  the  fort  opened  on  the  present  Bowling  Green,  which  from^ 
the  earliest  days  was  maintained  as  an  open  space.  It  was,  in  fact, 
the  heart  of  the  old  Dutch  town.  It  provided  a  playground  for  the 
children,  a  site  for  the  May-pole  around  which  the  youths  and 
maidens  danced,  a  parade  ground  for  the  soldiers  and  a  place  for  the 
great  market  and  the  annual  cattle  show.  Here,  also,  those  great 
meetings  with  the  Indians  were  held  at  which  treaties  were  ar- 
ranged and  the  pipe  of  peace  was  smoked.    (Excursion  VII.) 

3 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


NEW  YORK'S  DEVELOPMENT 


The  first  streets  were  laid  out  in  a  liapliazarcl  manner  and  the  town 
grew  up  in  a  random  fashion,  the  first  settlers  placing  their  houses 
according  to  the  dictates  of  their  fancy.  Thus  footpaths  and  cow- 
paths  gradually  developed  into  thoroughfares  and  produced  the  tangle 
of  streets  that  characterizes  lower  New  York  to  this  day.  Naturally, 
roadways  leading  to  the  fort  assumed  shape  at  an  early  date,  two  main 
paths  heing  established  in  this  wise.  One  of  these  paths  led  to  the 
ferry  connecting  the  town  with  Brooklyn,  the  other  passed  north- 
ward in  a  general  way  along  the  center  of  the  island.  The  first  of 
these  main  roads  was  practically  a  shore  path  following  the  present 
line  of  Stone  and  Pearl  Streets  and  terminating  at  about  the  present 
Peck  Slip.  The  second  fixed  the  line  of  lower  Broadway,  leading 
northward  from  the  fort  as  far  as  Park  Row  (Tnnes  says  via  Ann 
Street  to  Park  Row),  following  this  and  the  Bowery  and  passing  on 
finally  into  the  wilderness.  A  third  pathway  was  developed  when 
the  palisade  was  erected  along  the  present  line  of  \Y:i\\  Street. 


Block-House  and  City  Gate. 

Reproduced  by  permission  from  Todd's  **  The  Story  of  the  City  of  New  York": 
G.  r.  rut  nam's  Sons. 

5 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Broad  Street,  1663. 

Reproduced  by  permission  from  Todd's  "The  Story  of  the  City  of  New  York**: 
G.  P.  Putnam's  Sons. 

Besides  these  primitive  thoroughfares,  two  other  pathways  were 
laid  out  at  an  early  date.  Along  the  present  Broad  Street  a  canal 
extended  as  far  as  Beaver  Street  v^here  it  narrowed  to  a  ditch  and 
drained  a  swamp  that  extended  northward  to  about  Exchange  Place. 
On  either  side  of  the  canal  because,  no  doubt,  of  the  pleasant  sug- 
gestions of  similar  scenes  at  home,  the  early  settlers  erected  dwellings 
and  a  promenade  was  thus  established.  East  and  west  of  the  Broad 
Street  canal,  and  intersecting  it,  there  was  a  second  ditch  which  became 
a  pathway  and  is  now  known  as  Beaver  Street. 

The  origin  of  Wall  Street  supplies  another  interesting  chapter  to 
the  story  of  Njw  York's  old  thoroughfares.  The  wooden  wall  that 
was  erected  along  the  line  to  which  the  name  still  clings  was  built  in 
1653  to  protect  the  town  against  a  threatened  invasion  of  New  Eng- 
landers,  a  lithe,  slippery,  aggressive  race,"  whom  the  Dutch  looked 
upon  half  in  fear  and  half  in  scorn.  The  invasion  never  took  place, 
but  the  wall  remained  for  nearly  half  a  century  and  succeeded  nobly 
in  keeping  the  town  from  growing  beyond  its  useless  barrier. 

6 


Platk  III:  Lvnk-Bradford  Map,  171*8 
Photographed  from  H.  D.  Tylers  Reproductions 


NEW  YORK'S  DEVELOPMENT 


In  the  meantime,  the  Indians  inadvertently  became  the  cause  of  an 
important  road  development.  In  the  early  Dutch  days  several  bouw- 
eries  or  farms  had  been  established  northward  of  the  town,  the  most 
distant  belonging  to  Governor  Stuyvesant,  located  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Tenth  Street  and  Second  Avenue.  In  1655,  the  Indians  made  a 
number  of  attacks  on  the  outlying  settlers,  killing  several  farmers  and 
their  wives.  As  a  measure  of  protection  against  such  atrocities,  an 
order  was  issued  commanding  all  settlers  to  abandon  isolated  farms 
and  to  concentrate  in  hamlets.  This  led  to  the  formation  of  a  little 
colony  in  the  neighborhood  of  Stuyvesant  bouwerie  and  to  the  devel- 
opment of  the  road  that  connected  it  with  the  town,  called  in  those 
days  the  Bouwerie  Lane  and,  subsequently,  the  Bowery.  .  Three  years 
later  the  murder  of  a  prominent  settler  who  had  purchased  the  flats 
on  which  the  Village  of  Haarlem  was  afterwards  built,  led  to  the 
establishment  of  a  hamlet  in  that  neighborhood  and  to  the  extension 
of  the  Bouwerie  Lane  outward  to  the  northern  end  of  the  island. 

An  interesting  representation  of  New  Amsterdam's  outlines  and 
main  thoroughfares  has  fortunately  been  preserved  in  the  form  of  a 
map  generally  known  as  The  Duke's  Plan,"  being  a  draft  made  in 
1664  for  the  Duke  of  York  upon  the  capture  of  the  town  by  the  Eng- 
lish and  showing  how  it  looked  in  1661 ;  the  original  of  the  map  is  in 
the  British  Museum. 

In  course  of  time,  new  paths  beyond  the  "Wall"  were  developed.- 
One  of  these  along^  a  rippling  stream  was  called  by  the  Dutch  "  The 
Maiden's  Path,"  w^hich  the  English  later  translated  into  Maiden  Lane. 
Whether  this  title  was  due  to  its  service  as  a  lover's  lane  or,  as  those 
of  a  more  prosaic  nature  allege,  to  its  use  as  a  spot  where  maidens 
went  to  do  the  family  washing,  will  remain  in  obscurity. 

The  tendency  of  the  city's  growth,  as  shown  by  a  study  of  a  series 
of  the  early  maps,  was  northeastward,  the  western  section,  together 
with  Broadway,  remaining  undeveloped.  A  map  of  1728  from  a  sur- 
vey by  James  Lyne  and  printed  by  New  York's  first  printer,  William 
Bradford,  clearly  exhibits  the  direction  of  growth.  It  appears  that  the 
shipping  interests  extended  along  the  East  River  and  this  factor  in- 
fluenced the  location  of  warehouses  in  the  neighborhood,  as  well  as 
the  establishment  of  all  sorts  of  business  places  near  the  ferry,  in  order 
to  capture  the  Long  Island  trade.  Broadway  was,  in  reality,  a  distant 
and  unfrequented  part  of  the  town.  Near  Bowling  Green  there  were 
some  five  houses,  but  north  of  Crown  Street  (present  Liberty  Street), 
there  was  merely  a  stretch  of  open  fields.  On  the  map  this  section 
appears  as  the  King's  Farm.    The  story  of  this  farm  is  an  interesting 

7 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


and  important  chapter  in  the  history  of  New  York  and  it  remains  a 
factor  to  this  day.  In  Dutch  days  there  was  a  tract  between  the 
present  Fulton  and  Warren  Streets,  extending  from  Broadway  west- 
ward to  the  river,  known  as  the  Company's  Farm,  which  was  set  aside 
to  be  tilled  for  the  benefit  of  the  Company's  civil  and  military  serv- 
ants. When  the  English  came  into  control,  this  property  became  the 
private  land  of  the  Duke  of  York.  In  1670,  additional  land  was 
bought  from  the  heirs  of  Anneke  Jans,  the  farm  being  then  ex- 
tended to  about  Christopher  Street.  When  the  Duke  of  York  be- 
came king  this  tract  was  called  the  King's  Farm  and  subsequently, 
in  the  days  of  Anne,  the  Queen's  Farm.  In  1705,  the  entire  estate 
was  granted  to  the  "  English  Church  in  the  Island  of  New  York," 
(now  Trinity)  which  still  retains  possession  of  it.  No  doubt  this 
very  fact,  namely  that  the  land  belonged  to  the  church,  helped  to 
prevent  the  development  of  that  section,  the  inhabitants  naturally 
preferring  to  build  where  they  could  acquire  title  to  the  land. 

In  the  meantime,  that  portion  of  Manhattan  known  to  this  day  as 
Greenwich  Village  was  developing  along  lines  of  its  own.  The 
original  village  occiipied  the  region  between  West  Tenth  Street  and 
the  present  site  of  Gansevoort  Market.  Here  in  the  earliest  days  was 
an  Indian  settlement  selected  by  the  knowing  Red  Men  fjr  its  fer- 
tility, good  fishing  and  hunting.  The  Dutch  converted  the  section  into 
a  farm  and  farmers  were  easily  attracted  to  the  fertile  spot.  For  a 
number  of  years  it  retained  its  Indian  title  of  Sappokanican,  but 
about  the  year  1720  the  name  was  changed  to  Greenwich.  It  grew  in 
popularity  and  in  the  course  of  time  became  the  abiding  place  of  a 
number  of  prominent  people.  Naturally,  a  line  of  communication  was 
established  between  the  town  and  the  village,  the  Greenwich  Road 
along  the  line  practically  of  the  present  Greenwich  Street  being  the 
most  direct  route.  This  became  a  fashionable  driveway,  but  owing 
to  the  fact  that  it  crossed  Lispenard's  Meadows  and  Minetta  Water 
where  there  was  a  causeway,  and  that  after  a  rain  the  road  became 
very  bad,  people  frequently  gave  preference  to  the  Bowery,  turning 
westward  at  Astor  Place  where  there  was  a  cross  road. 

As  has  already  been  mentioned,  Greenwich  developed  along  lines 
of  its  own,  the  result  being  that  when  the  city  grew  up  to  it  and 
streets  were  joined,  a  hopeless  tangle  ensued  causing  such  extraor- 
dinary and  startling  occurrences  as  the  intersection  of  West  Fourth 
and  Tenth  Streets.    (Excursion  II.). 

The  picturesque  Bloomingdale  Road  which  yielded  to  the  aristo- 
cratic title  of  Boulevard  and  subsequently  became  plain  Broadway, 

8 


NEW  YORK'S  DEVELOPMENT 


was  opened  in  1703,  at  which  time  it  extended  from  about  Twenty- 
third  Street  to  One  Hundred  and  Fourteenth  Street.  In  1795  it 
was  laid  out  to  One  Hundred  and  Forty-seventh  Street  where  it 
formed  a  junction  with  the  Kingsbridge  Road.  Bloomingdale,  which 
bestowed  its  pleasantly  suggestive  name  (vale  of  flowers)  upon  the 
roadway  that  traversed  its  tract  of  fine  estates,  covered  the  space 
from  about  Madison  Square  to  the  neighborhood  of  One  Hundredth 
Street  and  contained  a  number  of  stately  mansions  nearly  all  of  which 
have  been  supplanted  by  crowded  modern  structures.  The  name 
survives  in  the  designation  Bloomingdale  Square,"  conferred  in 
1906  on  the  open  space  in  front  of  the  Bloomingdale  Reformed 
Church  at  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Street  and  Broadway.  (Excur- 
sion V.) 

Kingsbridge  Road  was  the  old  Post  Road  to  Albany  and  to  New 
England.  It  has  disappeared  from  the  modern  map.  As  in  the 
case  of  the  Bloomingdale  Road,  which  it  joined  at  One  Hundred 
and  Forty-seventh  Street,  continuing  northward  along  the  western 
section  of  the  island,  its  name  has  been  supplanted  by  that  of  Broad- 
way. 

The  unvarying  rectilinear  and  rectangular  plan  of  streets  that  con- 
signed J^Ianhattan  to  its  prosaic  gridiron  was  the  work  of  a  Com- 
mission consisting  of  Gouverneur  Morris,  Simeon  De  Witt  and  John 
Rutherford,  appointed  in  1807.  This  Commission,  after  four  years 
of  prodigious  effort,  evolved  the  monotonous  scheme  that  has  ef- 
fectively prevented  the  realization  of  a  city  bea^.itiful.  Some  of  the 
remarks   of   the   worthy   com.missioners   are   decidedly  interesting. 

Circles,  ovals  and  stars,"  it  seems,  strongly  tempted  them,  but  they 
did  not  flinch  from  their  sense  of  duty.  Acknowledging  that  such 
fanciful  forms  would  certainly  embellish  a  plan,  they  remembered 
that  the  city,  after  all,  was  to  be  composed  principally  of  the  habita- 
tions of  men  and  that  straight-sided  and  right-angled  houses  were 
"  the  most  cheap  to  live  in,"  and  the  effect  of  this  economic  reasoning 
was  decisive. 

Referring  to  another  problem  with  which  the  commissioners 
A'restled  and  which  disturbed  their  consciences  to  a  considerable  de- 
gree, a  statement  appears  as  follows :  "  It  may  to  many  be  a  matter 
of  surprise  that  so  few  vacant  spaces  have  been  left,  and  those  so 
small,  for  the  benefit  of  fresh  air  and  consequent  preservation  of 
health,"  "  Had  New  York  been  situated  near  little  streams  like  the 
Seine  or  the  Thames,"  reasoned  the  far-seeing  commissioners,  "  a  great 
number  of  ample  spaces  might  have  been  necessary,  but  Manhattan 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


being  embraced  by  large  arms  of  the  sea,  neither  from  the  point  of 
view  of  health  nor  pleasure  was  such  a  plan  necessary.  Besides, 
considering  the  uncommonly  great  price  of  land/'  said  the  prudent 
commissioners,  it  was  along  the  line  of  duty  to  be  economical." 
Another  comment  is  worth  repeating :  "  To  some,"  they  remarked, 
*^  it  may  be  a  matter  of  surprise  that  the  whole  island  has  not  been 
laid  out  as  a  city.  To  others  it  may  be  a  subject  of  merriment  that 
the  commissioners  have  provided  space  for  a  greater  population  than 
is  collected  at  any  spot  on  this  side  of  China.  They  have  in  this 
respect  been  governed  by  the  shape  of  the  ground.  It  is  not  im- 
probable that  considerable  numbers  may  be  collected  at  Harlem  before 
the  high  hills  to  the  southward  of  it  shall  be  built  upon  as  a  city; 
and  it  is  improbable  that  (for  centuries  to  come)  the  grounds  north 
of  Harlem  Flat  will  be  covered  with  houses."  This  was  just  one 
century  ago.  Cautious  commissioners !  To  have  gone  further," 
they  explained,  "  might  have  furnished  materials  to  the  pernicious 
spirit  of  speculation." 


ore 


EXCURSION  NO.  VII.— NEW  YORK  CITY,  SOUTH  OF 
WALL  STREET. 

By  FRAx^^K  Bergen  Kelley. 

Corrected  with  the  aid  of  Albert  Ulmann,  J.  H,  Innes  and  Charles 

Hemstreet. 

Copyright,  i8g8  and  1905,  by  the  City  History  Club  of  New  York. 
Revised  1908,  igog  and  1912 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


T 


A  Church  in  FoTL 
3.  Director  (/em 

C.  Store  House  £//<?(/!. 

D.  The  B  cover  Pah 
£ .  Churcb  and parsofja^e  , 
F.  Beyer  (/raft  (dea^er^Jc^ 
GTheBnJge. 
H.Sa(/^/fer/^er//^-  TMreat 
M  Brewery  of  The  WesilndiaCa 
L, 5 tore  5 hop 5 of  - 
M .  Old  BarH  M/h[  ■  usecf  as  first  aitf 
N.  Supposed  5/te  of  first  Windmil}. 
0  Reserved  parcels  offardof  IV.I.Co 


Plate  IV.    Redrawn  from  Innes'  ]\1ap  of  1644.      C.  K. 

(From  "  New  Amsterdam  and  Its  rcople,"  by  J.  II.  Innes.     Charles  Scribner's 

Sons). 


12 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


BIBLIOGRAPHY 


**  The  Dutch  Founding  of  New  York,"  by  Janvier. 
"  New  Amsterdam  and  Its  People,"  by  Innes. 
"  A  Landmark  History  of  New  York,"  by  Ulmann. 
"  Nooks  and  Corners  of  Old  New  York,"  by  Hemstreet. 
"  When  Old  New  York  was  Young,"  by  Hemstreet, 
"  Literary  Landmarks  in  New  York,"  by  Hemstreet. 
"In  Old  New  York"  (articles  on  "The  Evolution  of  New  York" 
and  "The  Battery"),  by  Janvier. 

"New  York  Old  and  New,"  by  R.  R.  Wilson. 

"The  Story  of  a  Street"  (Wall  Street),  by  Hill. 

"  Felix  Oldboy's  Walks  in  Our  Churchyards,"  by  Mines. 

"  History  of  Trinity  Parish,"  Dix. 

Reports  of  the  American  Scenic  and  Historic  Preservation  Society 
(articles  on  "  The  Battery,"  "  Castle  Garden,"  "  The  Fcrt  George 
Latitude  Monument,"  etc.). 

"  Historic  New  York,"  2  vols,  (papers  on  "  Fort  Amsterdam," 
"Bowling  Green,"  "The  Stadt  Huys,"  "Old  Wells,"  "Early  Wall 
Street,"  "  The  New  York  Press,"  "  Early  Schools  "  and  "  Governor's 
Island  "). 

This  Excursion  might  be  called  "  A  walk  through  New  Amsterdam,"  but  for 
tlie  fact  that  the  section  once  known  as  New  Amsterdam,  and  bounded  by 
Greenwich,  State,  Pearl  and  Wall  Streets,  contains  many  English  and  Revolu- 
tionary traces  as  well  as  those  of  Dutch  interest. 

To  complete  a  survey  of  Dutch  traces,  the  journey  should  be  continued  up 
Broadway,  Park  Row  and  the  Bowery  to  the  region  of  Stuyvesant's  Bouwerie 
(Excursion  III.). 

Before  taking  this  itinerary,  read  Mr.  Ulmann's  article,  p.  3, 
**  New  York's  Development." 

See  also  "The  Greatest  Street  in  the  World  :  Broadway,"  by  Stephen 
Jenkins. 

Note. — The  *  refers  to  Addenda,  1912,  on  pages  37,  38. 


Bowling  Green  MANHATTAN 


I  Route 


ROUTE  I. 

SECTION  I— AROUND  BOWLING  GREEN. 

(Figures  refer  to  Plate  V;  compare  with   Plates  II,  III,  IV,  VI, 
VII,  and  VIII). 

Take  Elcz'atcd  R.  R.  or  Broadzvay  car  to  Battery  Place,  or  Subway  to 
Bowling  Green. 

The  original  Hudson  River  Shore  Line  approximately  followed  Greenwich 
Street  and  the  line  of  the  Ninth  Avenue  Elevated  Railroad  to  the  vicinity  of 
South  Ferry  Station.  Greenwich  Street  (laid  out  about  1760)  was  the  shore 
road  to  Greenwich  X'^illage  (Excursion  II).  The  map  of  1695  shows  palisades 
along  Greenwich  Street  connected  at  the  nor<:h  with  the  wall  on  Wall  Street. 
Remains  of  old  posts  were  dug  up  when  the  foundations  of  the  Bowling  Green 
Offices  were  laid. 

Battery  Place  was  the  western  extension  of  Marketfield  Street 
and  derives  its  name  from  the  battery  erected  here  in  English  days. 
(Section  IV.)  Note  the  old  buildings  at  the  foot  of  Greenwich  and 
Washington  Streets.*  i 

Go  up  Broadway. 

Broadway  was  called  the  Heere  Straat,  the  Heere  IVegh  and  the 
Broad  Way,  and  extended  to  Ann  Street  where  it  turned  east  and  up 
Nassau  Street  to  Park  Row. 

I.  Tablet  on  th^  Washington  Building,  i  Broadway,  erected  by 
the  Sons  of  the  Revolution  to  mark  the  site  of  the  Kennedy  House, 
built  about  1760  by  Captain  Archibald  Kennedy,  R.  N.,  a  member  of 
the  Governor's  Council  and  Collector  of  the  Port,  later  eleventh  Earl 
of  Cassilis.  It  was  occupied  during  the  Revolution  by  Putnam, 
"  King  "  Scars,  Generals  Clinton  and  Carleton,  but  not  by  Washing- 
ton, whose  headquarters  before  September  14,  1776,  were  at  Rich- 
mond Hill  (Excursion  II).  Later  it  was  owned  by  Nathaniel  Prime 
and  became  the  Washington  Hotel.  The  Washington  Building  was 
erected  by  Cyrus  W.  Field  and  from  its  tower  and  roof  can  be 
gained  fine  views  of  the  harbor.  Robert  Fulton  died  in  a  house  which  ^ 
stood  just  at  the  rear. 

9  and  IT  Broadway  are  on  the  site  of  the  tavern  of  Martin  Cregier,  a  Dutch 
burgomaster,  and  of  the  King's  Arms  Tazern  or  Burns'  Co  tree  House,  where  the 
Non-Importation  Agreement  was  signed  by  New  York  merchants  in  1766  (by 
some  located  at  113  Broadway).  Benedict  Arnold  had  his  quarters  here  for  a 
time. 

Note.  So  says  Valentine,  but  Innes  claims  that  Cregier's  second  house  was 
on  the  site  of  3  Broadway,  and  doubts  whether  he  kept  tavern  here.  There  is 
also  reason  to  doubt  whether  the  name  Burns'  Coftee  House  applied  to  the 
King's  Anns  Tavern. 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Bowling  Green 


MANHATTAN 


1  Route 


2.  17-19  Broadway  (see  stijne  lions')  was  once  the  British  Consulate. 
Here  for  a  time  lived  Daniel  Webster. 

3.  21-27  Broadway,  the  Stevens  House,  was  built  about  1800  by 

Capt,  Stevens  as  three  dwellings,  later  used  for  business;  then  as  a 

hotel,  where  Jenny  Lind  and  P.  T.  Barnum  stopped.*  la 

Morris  Street  was  the  open  way  to  Bayard's  Brewery,  South  of  it  lay  the 
original  Dutch  burying  ground.  On  the  west  side  of  Broadway  were  private 
residences  during  colonial   days,   and  shops   on  the  east  side. 

4.  Bowling  Green,  the  heart  of  New  Amsterdam  and  the  center 
(north  and  south)  of  the  Geater  New  York.  Here  some  believe  Peter 
Minuit  purchased  the  Island  of  Manhattan  in  1626.  It  was  known  as 
the  Plainc  and  the  Marckveldt  in  Dutch  days  and  later  as  the  Market 
Field  and  the  Parade.  Here  were  held  the  Dutch  w^eekly  market  and 
annual  kermess,  and  here  the  soldiers  of  the  fort  paraded.  In  1732 
it  was  ordered  fenced  in  and  was  leased  at  one  peppercorn  a  year 
for  eleven  years  to  three  citizens  for  a  private  Bowling  Green,  the 
lease  being  renewed  for  a  second  eleven  years,  at  20  shillings  per 
annum.*  2 

The  Stamp  Act  Riot  centered  here  in  1765,  when  Gov.  Colden's 
coach,  containing  his  effigy,  was  burned.  Here,  in  1770,  was  set  up 
the  gilded  leaden  equestrian  statue  of  George  III  (made  in  London 
by  Wilton,  w^ho  also  made  a  replica),  which  was  torn  down  by  the 
mob  July  9,  1776,  after  the  reading  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.. 
The  lead  was  converted  into  bullets  for  the  patriots,  but  the  stone 
cap  of  the  pedestal  and  the  tail  and  bridle  of  the  horse  may  yet  be 
seen  in  the  rooms  of  the  New  York  Historical  Society.  The  stone 
cap  was  used  as  a  tombstone  to  mark  the  remains  of  Captain  J. 
Smith  (see  the  inscription  upon  its  face),  and  later  was  used  as 
a  doorstep  by  the  Van  Voorst  family  of  Jersey  City.  The  leaden 
pieces  were  dug  up  on  a  farm  in  Connecticut.  The  head  of  the 
statue  w^as  rescued  by  Cox,  the  proprietor  of  the  tavern  at  Kings- 
bridge,  and  later  given  up  to  the  British  authorities. 

The  iron  fence  was  brought  from  England  in  1771;  the  iron 
balls  crowning  the  posts  were  broken  off  during  the  Revolution. 

Here  the  Federal  Procession  of  1787  was  reviewed  by  Washington, 
and  the  Federal  Ship  of  State,  made  and  presented  by  the  ship  car- 
penters of  New  York,  remained  on  the  Bowling  Green  until  1789. 
Here,  in  1794,  occurred  a  riotous  public  meeting  to  protest  against 
the  Jay  Treaty.  About  1797  the  Green  assumed  its  present  oval  form. 
See  the  bronze  statue  of  Abraham  de  Peyster,  Mayor  in  1691-5,  and 
holder  of  many  colonial  offices  1685-1721.  It  was  erected  by  John 
Watts  de  Peyster,  George  E.  Bissell,  sculptor. 


17 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Bowling  Green 


MANHATTAN 


I  Route 


5.  Custom  House,  site  of  Fort  Amsterdam  A  traders'  fort, 
the  original  log  blockhouse  of  1615,  probably  occupied  this  site  Fort 
Amsterdam  was  begun  in  1626,  by  Minuit,  and  was  completed  in 
1633-5  ^  structure  of  earth  and  stone  with  four  bastions,  the  main 
gate  opening  on  the  Bowling  Green.  The  fort  contained  the  Director- 
General's  house  and  the  Church  of  St.  Nicholas,  or  the  Church  in  the 
Fort,  erected  in  1642,  and  mother  of  the  Collegiate  Dutch  churches. 
To  honor  the  rulers  of  the  Colony  the  name  of  the  fort  was  changed 
successively  to  James,  William  Hendrick,  William,  Anne  and  George. 

After  the  demolition  of  the  fort  in  1790  the  Government  House 
was  erected  here  as  a  presidential  mansion,  but  was  occupied  by 
Governors  Clinton  and  Jay.  Later  it  was  used  as  a  custom  house  and 
was  burned  in  1815,  when  the  land  was  sold  and  private  residences 
erected  thereon,  which  afterwards  became  known  as  Steamship  Rozi\ 
In  1902-7  the  present  Custom  House  was  erected,  Cass  Gilbert, 
architect.  See  in  the  Collector's  Office  an  inscription  over  the  fire- 
place stating  the  history  of  the  site.  The  statuary  on  the  building 
is  by  D.  C.  French  and  represents  the  continents  and  the  great 
trading  nations  of  ancient  and  modern  times.*  3    See  note  p.  22. 

In  Battery  Park,  opposite  the  west  side  of  the  Custom  House, 
see  the 

6.  Fort  George  Monument,  erected  in  1818  by  the  City  Cor- 
poration to  mark  the  site  of  the  southwest  bastion  of  Fort  George. 
This  stone  was  unearthed  during  the  excavation  for  the  subway  and 
was  reinstated  in  1907  through  the  action  of  the  American  Scenic 
and  Historic  Preservation  Society  and  the  New  York  Historical  So- 
ciety. 

Go  dozen  State  Street  to  JVhitehall  Street,  passing 

7.  Tablet  at  10  Pearl  Street,  near  State  Street,  erected  by  the  % 
Holland  Dames  of  New  Netherlands,  incorrectly  placed  here  to  mark 
the  site  of  the  first  city  hall  (see  33). 

8.  7  State  Street,  now  a  home  for  immigrant  girls,  one  of 
the  mansions  of  a  century  ago,  olt  what  was  in  1800  one  of  the 
most  fashionable  residential  streets. 

9  State  Street  is  the  site  of  the  home  of  John  Morton,  the  *'  rebel  banker." 


19  ^ 


Route  I 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Bowling 


9.  Tablet,  at  51  Whitehall  Street,  erected  in  1904  by  the 
Mary  Washington  Colonial  Chapter  of  the  Daughters  of  the  Ameri- 
can Revolution,  marks  the  site  of  Whitehall  Ferry,  where  Washing- 
ton made  his  departure  from  New  York  in  178.3. 

Schreyers*  Hock  or  Capske  was  the  name  giveii  to  the  extreme  end  of  the 
island,  in  commemoration  of  the  Schreyers'  Hoek  in  Amsterdam  from  which 
ships  set  sail  for  America.  Capske  Rocks  lay  just  south,  beyond  the  original 
shore  line.  They  were  uncovered  during  the  recent  excav&tion  for  the 
South   Ferry  subway  station. 

Go  north  on  Whitehall  Street. 

Whitehall  Street  was  named  for 

10.  Governor  Stuyvesant's  House,  erected  in  1658,  later  called  the 
White  Hall  which  stood  on  what  is  now  the  southwest  corner  of 
Pearl  and  Whitehall  Streets.  In  Dutch  times  it  was  called  the 
Marckveldt,  later  Beurs  or  Exchange  Street.*  4 

Percl  Straet  in  Dutch  days  extended  east  only  as  far  as  Whitehall 
Street,  and  was  probably  so  called  because  of  the  pearly  shells " 
found  near  it  on  the  beach.  It  was  laid  out  in  1633  and  some  of  the 
first  Dutch  houses  were  built  along  it,  under  the  gims  of  the  fort. 
Pearl  Street  east  of  Whitehall  Street  was  here  called  the  Strand. 
The  site  of  the 

Ti.  First  (wooden)  Dutch  Church  was  at  39  Pearl  Street,  not  at  33,  as  is 
often  stated. 

12.  Tablet,  at  23  Whitehall  Street,  erected  in  1902  by  the 
Knickerbocker  Chapter,  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution,  to 
mark  the  site  of  the  house  of  Dominie  Bogardus,  whose  wife,  Anneke 
Jans,  owned  the  farm  which  became  the  property  of  Trinity  Church. 

Go  east  on  Stone  Street. 

Stone  Street  was  first  known  as  Brouwer  S tract,  because  on  it  was  the 
Company's  brewery  (at  No.  lo);  it  was  called  Stone  Street  from  the  fact  that 
it  was  the  first  New  York  street  to  be  paved  (with  cobblestones  in  1657). 
Adam  Roelandsen  taught  the  first  school  of  New  Amsterdam  in  his  house  on 
this  street  (about  No.  7).*  5 

The  West  India  Company's  Hve  stake  shops  were  on  the  site  of  the  Merchants' 
Building. 

Go   through   the  Stone  Street  entrance  of  the  Produce  Exchange. 

20 


Green 


MANHATTAN 


I  Route 


13.  Tablet  (on  the  rear  wall  of  the  Produce  Exchange,  facing 
the  court),  erected  by  the  Huguenot  Society  of  America  to  mark 
the  site  of  the  first  Huguenot  Church,  built  in  1688. 

The  White  Horse  Inn  was  at  the  northeast  corner  of  Stone  and  Whitehall 
Streets. 

14.  Marketfield  Street  is  the  little  street  facing  the  court  of 
the  Produce  Exchange  and  in  Dutch  days  was  known  as  Marckveldt 
Stcc^ic  (lane)  when  it  connected  with  the  Marckveldt  proper.  In 
English  days  it  was  called  Petticoat  Lane,  possibly  because  it  was  a 
favorite  shopping  district  for  the  ladies. 

Go  north  on  New  Street. 

New  Street  was  so  called  because  opened  later  than  other 
streets  in  the  vicinity  (1679). 

Go  zcest  on  Exchange  Place  and  dozvn  Broadzvay. 

Note  the  hill,  a  trace  of  Verlctteuhergh  (Vcrlett's  Hill),  corrupted 
to  Flatten  Barrack  by  the  English ;  once  a  favorite  coasting  place. 

15.  Tablet,  at  50  Broadway,  erected  by  the  Society  of  Archi- 
tecture and  Ironmasters  of  New  York,  on  the  Tower  Building  to 
mark  it  as  the  earliest  example  of  a  skeleton-frame  steel  structure, 
originated  and  designed  in  1888-9  hy  Bradford  Lee  Gilbert. 

16.  Tablet,  41  Broadway,  erected  by  the  Holland  Society,  to 
mark  the  site  of  the  first  white  men's  houses  in  Manhattan.  They 
were  built  in  1613  by  Adrian  Block  who,  when  his  ship,  the  Tiger, 
was  burned,  built  the  Unrest  near  this  spot. 

Note. — So  says  Booth's  "  History  of  New  York.'*  Innes  locates  this  at  the 
foot  of  Roosevelt  Street,  East  River.  The  brook  running  to  the  foot  of  Roose- 
velt Street  was  long  known  as  the  Old  Wreck  Brook,  and  the  cove  at  this  part 
of  the  East  River  shore  might  well  have  furnished  shelter  to  a  small  craft 
during  winter  storms, 

39  Broadway  is  the  site  of  the  McComb  Mansion,  where  \Vashington  lived 
in  1790.  Note  the  irregular  frontage  of  buildings  north,  authorized  by  the  city 
government. 

T7.    Revolutionary  cannon,  55  Broadway,  forming  part  of  the 

exterior  railing.    {Removed ,  IQ12,  to  he  mounted  in  Battery  Park.) 

See  the  statues,  by  J.  Massey  Rhind,  of  Clinton,  Wolfe,  Stuyvesant 
and  Hudson  on  I'Lxchange  Court,  5^-56  Broadway. 


Route  I 


HISTORICAL    GUIDE         Bowling  Green 


Go  down 

Exchange  Alley,  by  some  supposed  to  be  the  old  Tin  Pot  Alley 
(Tuyn  Paat  or  Garden  Lane),  marked  by  a  terra  cotta  tablet  at  the 
corner  of  Broadway. 

Valentine  refers  the  name  to 

i8.  Edgar  Street,  connecting  Trinity  Place  and  Greenwich 
Street,  one  of  the  shortest  streets  in  the  city.  See  old  residences  and 
the  Hotel  Gruetli  on  the  west  side  of  Trinity  Place. 

Edgar  Street  led  to  the  Edgar  Mansion  on  Greenwich  Street,  where  April 
8,  1834,  Daniel  Webster  made  an  address  to  the  people  on  the  inauguration 
of  Cornelius  W.   Lawrence,  first  elected  Mayor  of  New  York. 

The  West  India  Company's  Orchard  and  Garden  occupied  the  land  north  of 
Exchange  alley  and  west  of  Broadway, 

Note  (5,  p.  19).  In  the  Collector's  Office  see  ten  mural  paintings 
(1912)  by  Elmer  E.  Garnsey  of  Colonial  Ports  of  the  Seventeenth  Cen- 
tury; they  include  old  Amsterdam,  New  Amsterdam  and  Fort  Orange. 


22 


Trinity 


MANHATTAN 


2  Route 


ROUTE  2. 

SECTION  II —TRINITY  CHURCH  AND  WALL  STREET. 

19.  Trinity  Church.  Original  building  1696-7;  burned  in  the 
great  fire  of  1776;  rebuilt  1788-90;  present  building  1839-46,  Richard 
Upjohn,  architect.  (See  "The  Church  Farm"  in  Excursion  II). 
The  bronze  doors  designed  by  St.  Gaudens  (the  gift  of  W.  W.  As- 
tor)  representing  Biblical  and  local  historic  scenes,  and  the  Astor 
Reredos  (the  gift  of  J.  J.  and  Wm.  Astor).  In  a  passageway  at 
the  north  of  the  Chancel  are  the  effigy  of  Bishop  Onderdonck,  me- 
morial windows  to  other  bishops  and  some  stones  from  the  old 
building.  In  the  sacristy  at  the  south  side  are  several  pictures  and 
memorial  tablets  including  one  to  a  party  of  Scotchmen  who  were 
shipwrecked  off  the  coast  of  Sandy  Hook  in  1783. 

Among  the  Trinity  tombs  not  indexed  are  those  of  Francis  and 
Morgan  Lew^is,  the  English  governors  Sir  Henry  Moore,  Osborne 
and  Delancey  and  the  wife  of  Governor  Clarke.  Note  the  elevation 
of  the  yard  above  Trinity  Place,  a  trace  of  the  original  bluffs 
along  the  Hudson  River  shore  at  -this  point. 

The  Lutheran  Church  (i 671-1776)  stood  at  the  corner  of  Rector  Street  and 
Broadway,  this  spot  afterwards  being  the  location  of  Grace  Episcopal  Churchy 
1808-46. 


23 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


TRINITY  CHURCHYARD. 


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25 


Route  2 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Wall 


Go  east  on 

Wall  Street,  so  called  from  the  palisade  built  in  1653  by  Stuy- 
vesant  to  defend  New  Amsterdam,  and  removed  in  1699  when  some 
of  the  material  was  worked  into  the  new  City  Hall.  The  Land 
Poort,  or  gate,  was  at  Broadway  and  the  Water  Poort  at  Pearl  Street 
where  a  Half  Moon  Battery  was  located.  Bastions  stood  on  the  sites 
of  the  rear  of  Trinity  Churchyard,  4  Wall  Street,  the  Sub-Treasury, 
44  Wall  Street  and  the  head  of  Hanover  Street.  In  1673  the  western 
line  of  the  palisade  was  turned  south  to  the  shore  at  Rector  Street, 
the  wall  was  surveyed  and  Wall  Street  officially  established  in  1685 
by  Governor  Dongan.*  7 

20.  Site  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Churchy  just  east  of  the  head 
of  New  Street.  Here  Jonathan  Edwards  and  George  Whitefield 
preached.  The  building  was  used  as  a  hospital  by  the  British  during 
the  Revolution.    (Excursion  H,  17,  and  Excursion  V,  Section  1:10.) 

Note  the  jog  in  the  sidewalk  at  the  northwest  corner  of  Nassau 
Street  (old  Piewoman's  Lane  or  Kip  Street)  over  which  Federal 
Hall  projected. 

21.  The  Sub-Treasury,  on  the  site  of  the  Colonial  City  Hall 
(1699-1812).  The  old  building  contained  the  Court  Rooms,  Common 
Council  Chamber,  jail,  a  debtors*  prison,  accommodations  for  the 
fire  department  and  a  library,  the  predecessor  of  the  New  York  So- 
ciety Library.  In  front,  at  the  head  of  Broad  Street,  stood  the  cage, 
pillory,  stocks  and  whipping  post.  Here  was  won  the  Zenger  Case 
securing  the  freedom  of  the  press,  and  here,  in  1765,  the  Stamp  Act 
Congress  met.  In  1785  it  was  used  as  the  State  Capitol  and  here  the 
Continental  Congress  met.  In  1788  the  building  was  reconstructed 
by  Major  Pierre  Charles  TEnfant  (who  later  planned  the  City  of 
Washington)  and  was  known  as  Federal  Hall.  It  was  used  by  the 
first  Congress  under  the  Constitution.  Here  Washington  took  the 
oath  of  office  on  April  30,  1789.  When  the  capital  was  removed  to 
Philadelphia,  this  building  became  the  State  Capitol  and  so  remained 
until  1797. 

Here,  in  1804,  the  New  York  Historical  Society  was  founded.  In 
1812  the  building  was  torn  down  and  the  present  building  erected 
as  the  Custom  House  which  in  1862  was  remodeled  for  a  Sub- 
Treasury.  Note  the  statue  of  Washington  by  J.  Q.  A.  Ward,  erected 
in  1883  by  public  subscription  under  the  auspices  of  the  Chamber 

26 


Street  MANHATTAN  2  Route 


27 


Route  2  HISTORICAL    GUIDE  Wall 

of  Commerce.  At  the  foot  of  this  statue  there  was  formerly  a  great 
slab  of  brown  stone  on  which  Washington  stood  while  taking  the 
oath  of  office.  It  has  been  enclosed  in  a  bronze  frame,  covered  with 
glass  and  placed  upon  the  south  wall  of  the  interior  of  the  building. 
Part  of  the  railing  of  the  balcony  from  which  Washington  delivered 
his  first  inaugural  address  is  in  the  building  of  the  New  York  His- 
torical Society  and  a  second  part  is  in  front  of  Bellevue  Hospital.  The 
tablet  on  the  west  front  of  the  Sub-Treasury  was  erected  in  1905  by 
the  Ohio  Company  of  Associates  to  commemorate  the  passage  by  the 
Congress  here  assembled  in  1787  of  the  Ordinance  of  1787,  and  the 
purchase  by  the  Ohio  Company  of  Associates  of  lands  in  the  North- 
west Territory  on  which,  in  1788,  they  made  their  first  settlement  at 
Marietta. 

The  tablet  on  the  east  front  represents  Washington  in  prayer  at 
Valley  Forge  (presented  by  John  T.  Clancy;  J.  E.  Kelley,  sculptor), 
erected  February  22,  1907,  by  Lafayette  Post,  No.  140,  G.  A.  R. 

22.  The  U.  S.  Assay  Office,  32  Wall  Street,  built  in  1823  on 
the  site  of  the  Verplanck  mansion,  formerly  used  as  the  United  States 
Bank  and  Treasury,  is  the  oldest  federal  building  now^  standing  in 
Manhattan.  Alexander  Hamilton's  law  office  stood  at  (formerly 
57)  Wall  Street,  on  the  site  of  the  Mechanics'  National  Bank. 

23.  Bank  of  the  Manhattan  Company,  40  Wall  Street,  the 
second  oldest  bank  of  New  York,  founded  by  the  Manhattan  Com- 
pany in  1799  which,  by  the  aid  of  Aaron  Burr,  was  chartered  ostensibly 
to  supply  New  York  wnth  drinking  water.  Within  the  bank  is  a  piece 
of  the  old  wooden  water  pipe;  the  Manhattan  water  tank  still  stands 
on  Centre  Street,  near  Duane  (Excursion  HI  :23). 

The  Merchants'  Bank,  42  Wall  Street,  is  the  third  oldest  bank, 
organized  in  1803. 

24.  The  corner  stone  oi'  the  Bank  of  New  York  is  at  the 

northeast  corner  of  Wall  and  William  Streets  and  bears  the  following 
inscription :  "  This  corner-stone  of  the  Bank  of  New  York  was  laid 
June  22,  1797,.  by  Gulian  Verplanck,  Esq.,  the  President,  Geo.  Doolett, 
Architect."  This  is  the  oldest  New  York  bank  and  one  of  the  oldest 
three  in  the  United  States.  It  was  founded  by  Alexander  Hamihon 
and  others  in  1784,  at  the  Merchants'  Coffee  House.*  7 

On  the  corner  of  Wall  and  William  Streets  (near  Governor  Tryon's 
house)  stood  the  marble  statue  of  William  Pitt,  erected,  there  in 
1770  to  honor  his  defence  of  the  rights  of  the  colonists.    It  waa 

28 


Street  MANHATTAN  2  Route 

mutilated  by  British  soldiers  and  may  now  be  seen  in  the  building  of 
the  New  York  Historical  Society. 

At  52  Wall  Street,  in  the  Directors*  Room  of  the  New  York  Life 
Insurance  and  Trust  Company,  is  the  corner  stone  of  the  United 
States  Branch  Bank,  which  formerly  occupied  this  site.  The  stone 
is  dated  June  13,  1797. 

25.  Tablet,  56  Wall  Street,  erected  by  the  Canadian  Society 
of  New  York,  in  1903,  to  commemorate  ^lorris  Robinson,  first 
president  of  the  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company  of  New  York,  who 
here  established  the  business  of  modern  life  insurance  on  the  American 
Continent. 

26.  The  old  U.  S.  Custom  House  (now  remodeled  and  the 
property  of  the  National  City  Bank)  occupies  the  site  of  the  Mcr- 
chants'  Exchange  (burnt  in  the  fire  of  1835)  ;  became  the  Custom 
House  in  1862. 

27.  Tontine  Building,  Wall  Street,  between  Pearl  and  Water 
Streets,  is  on  the  site  of  the  Tontine  Coffee  House  (1793)  where  the 
Cham^ber  of  Commerce  and  many  other  organizations  met. 

The  Merchants'  Coffee  House  was  erected  in  1740  on  the  southeast 
corner,  and  the  region  was  known  as  Coffee  House  Slip.  Here  were 
held  several  important  demonstrations  by  the  patriots  before  the 
Revolution. 

28.  Site  of  the  M,,cal  Market,  also  used  as  a  city  slave  market,  in 
the  middle  of  Wall,  near  Water  Street.  Washington  landed  at  Mur- 
ray's Wharf  near  by,  April  23,  1789,  when  he  came  to  be  inaugurated. 

Note,  1912:  The  Assay  Office  (22,  p.  28)  is  to  be  torn  down  in  1913 
to  make  way  for  a  larger  structure  for  the  same  uses. 


29 


Route  3  HISTORICAL    GUIDE  Pearl  Street 

ROUTE  3 

SECTION   III.— PEARL  AND  BROAD  STREETS. 

This  part  of  Pearl  Street  was  in  early  days  known  as  the  Road  to 
the  Ferry, 

Go  south  on  Pearl  Street. 

29.  At  119-121  Pearl  Street  lived  Gen.  Jean  Victor  Moreau, 
who  tried  to  assassinate  Napoleon  Bonaparte.  Captain  Kidd  lived  on 
the  same  site  about  1691. 

Hanover  Square,  named  for  George  I  of  Hanover,  was  the 
fashionable  center,  and  "  Printing  House  Square "  of  English  New 
York. 

30.  Tablet  on  Cotton  Exchange,  erected  by  the  New  York 
Historical  Society,  to  mark  the  site  of  the  first  New  York  newspaper 
office,  Bradford's  New  York  Gazette,  1725.  Other  papers  were  pub- 
lished near  by. 

William  Street  (named  for  William  of  Orange,  later  William 
HI),  between  Stone  and  Pearl  Streets,  was  Burger's  Path.  North  of 
Stone  Street  it  was  Smee  or  Smith  Street,  opened  1656-7. 

31.  Marble  tablet,  90  Pearl  Street,  commemorates  the  great 
fire  of  1835,  which  destroyed  $20,000,000  worth  of  property,  between 
Wall  Street  (the  old  Merchants'  Exchange)  and  Coenties  Slip,  and 
led  to  the  more  rapid  completion  of  the  Croton  Aqueduct. 

32.  Tablet,  81  Pearl  Street,  erected  by  the  New  York  Historical 
Society,  marks  the  site  of  Bradford's  first  printing  press  (1693). 

33.  Tablet,  73  Pearl  Street,  erected  by  the  Holland  Society,  to 
mark  the  site  of  Kieft's  Stadt  Herbergh  or  Tavern  (1641-2),  which 
became  the  Stadt  Huys,  or  first  City  Hall  of  New  York  (1653-4). 

Coenties  Alley,  or  Stadt  Huys  Lane,  is  the  original  street  from 
the  shore  to  Hoogh  (Stone)  Street.  The  Stadt  Huys  was  used  as 
a  jail,  debtors'  prison,  court  house,  city  hall  and  public  storehouse. 
Governor  Lovelace  had  a  tavern  next  door.  A  well,  pillory  and  stocks 
were  located  on  the  river  shore  in  front  of  the  Stadt  Huys. 

34.  Coenties  Slip  is  named  for  Conraet  ("  Coenties ")  Ten 
Eyck,  who  lived  here.  The  Slip  "  was  not  filled  in  until  about  1835, 
and  the  site  is  occupied  by  Jeannette  Park,  named  for  the  Herald 
Arctic  Expedition  ship.    Part  of  the  Erie  Canal  fleet  lies  here.*S 

35.  Fraunces  Tavern,  54  Pearl  Street,  corner  of  Broad  Street 

(see  Excursion  VI). 

In  the  middle  of  Broad  Street,  just  below  Fraunces  Tavern,  was  the  first 
Merchants'  Exchange, 

30 


I 


Broad  Street 


MANHATTAN 


3  Route 


Opposite  Fraunces  Tavern,  to  the  west,  see  the  Bush  Terminal 
Company's  building;  style,  eleventh  century  Gothic,  with  gargoyles 
of  old  mariners'  heads  (as  the  upper  floor  is  occupied  by  the  "  Jolly 
Mariners"  dining  club). 

Pearl  Street  was  the  original  shore  line  from  the  east  side  of  Whitehall 
Street  north.  At  the  foot  of  Broad  (near  Pearl)  Street  the  Great  Dock  was 
located  in  Governor  Dongan's  time.  Gradually  the  shore  line  was  extended  to 
Water,  Front  and  South  Streets,  but  the  work  was  not  completed  until  after 
the  Revolution. 

Go  Up  Broad  Street 


"  Blommacrt's  Vly  "  was  a  swampy  region,  extending  along  Broad  Street  from 
Exchange  Place  to  South  William  Street,  originally  imperfectly  drained  by  a 
creek  running  through  the  present  Broad  Street,  which  the  Dutch  converted 
into  a  ditch  in  1647  ai^d  the  Heere  Gracht  or  canal  in  1657.  A  street  was  laid 
out  on  either  side  of  the  canal,  and  it  became^  a  favorite  residence  district. 
After  becoming  a  public  nuisance,  it  was  filled  in  in  1676.  Traces  of  the  swamp 
are  found  during  the  construction  of  tall  buildings,  it  being  necessary  to  ex- 
cavate many  feet  to  secure  solid  foundations.  At  Bridge  Street  a  small  bridge 
crossed  the  canal.  Stone  Street,  east  of  Broad  Street,  was  the  Dutch  Hoogh 
or  High  Street,  in  English  days  Duke  Street,  connecting  with  Pearl  Street  at 
Hanover  Square,  as  part  of  the  old  Road  to  the  Ferry, 

Beaver  Street,  called  Bever  Gracht,  led  to  the  swamp  in  Broad  Street,  and 
was  drained  by  a  small  canal  or  ditch. 

Go  east  on  South  William  Street. 

36.  Site  of  the  Horse  Mill  or  Bark  Mill,  32-34  South  William  Street. 
This  was  one  of  the  first  mills  built  by  the  West  India  Company  (1626).  In 
its  upper  story  were  held  the  first  regular  religious  services  (1628-33)  of  .the 
Dutch  Church.  Here,  August  29,  1664,  "  by  eight  of  the  clock  in  the  morning, 
at  the  Old  Mill,"  took  place  the  final  exchange  of  the  documents  marking  the 
surrender  of  New  Amsterdam  to  the  English  (Innes).  It  was  later  used  by  the 
Jews  until  they  erecte.-!  their  first  synagogue  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street. 
For  a  time  the  building  or  a  part  of  it  was  occupied  by  the  negro  slaves  of 
the  West  India  Company. 


37.  Mill  Stones  in  the  rear  of  i8  South  William  Street  (or  of 
40  Beaver  Street)  supposed  to  have  been  used  in  this  mill.  Two  of 
these  stones  have  been  placed  in  the  foundation  of  the  Temple 
Shearith  Israel  at  99  Central  Park  West,  in  commemoration  of  this 
first  synagogue. 

Note. — So  say  some  writers,  but  Innes  states  that  the  Tews  never  occupied 
Bark  Mill   and  that  their  synagogue  was  on  the  north  sicfe  of  the  street  and 
several  doors  east  of  the  old  mill.    He  also  believes  that  the  present  mill  stones  ^ 
came  from  a  later  mill   in  this  vicinity   (see  article  on  '*  The   Bark  Mill  "  in 
the  "  Quarterly   Federation   of   Churches,"   Vol.    Ill,    No.    5,  1905). 


38.  "  Mill  Lane,"  also  known  as  Ellets'  or  Elliotts*  Alley  (con- 
necting South  William  with  Stone  Street),  was  opened  in  1656-7  to 
connect  Slyck  Stcegh  with  Hoogh  Street.  At  1,3  South  William 
Street  see  house  built  in  imitation  of  the  old  Dutch  *'  crow-step  '* 
Style. 

31 


Route  3 


HISTORICAL    GUIDE  Broad  Street 


Go  west  on  Beaver  Street. 

39.  Ancient  marble  columns  (brought  from  Pompeii)  at  the  en- 
trance of  the  Delmonico  Building,  South  William  and  Beaver  Streets. 

40.  Marinus  Willett  Tablet,  northwest  corner  of  Broad  and 
Beaver  Streets,  erected  in  1892  by  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution  to 
mark  the  site  of  the  seizure  of  arms  by  the  Sons  of  Liberty  from 
British  soldiers,  June  6,  1775.  See  representation  on  the  tablet  of  old 
Broad  Street  and  Federal  Hall  and  the  medallion  head  of  Willett. 

Go  north  on  Broad  Street,  passing 

41.  Site  of  the  New  or  South  Dutch  Church  on  Tuyen  or  Garden 
Street  (now  Exchange  Place)  between  Broad  and  William  Streets, 
built  in  1691-3,  adjoining  the  land  of  the  widow  of  Dominie  Drisius. 
The  land  just  below  Wall  Street,  between  Broadway  and  Pearl  Street, 
was  used  by  the  Dutch  as  the  first  common  or  Schaap  Waytie. 

42.  New  York  Stock  Exchange,  organized  in  1792  by  a  group 
of  brokers  who  met  first  under  a  buttonwood  tree  in  front  of  70 
Wall  Street,  and  held  daily  meetings  a  few  months  later  at  the 
Tontine  Coffee  House  (see  27). 

After  meeting  in  various  places  the  present  site,  10-12  Broad  Street, 
was  purchased  in  1863.  Traces  of  the  old  swamp  made  the  con- 
struction of  the  present  building  (opened  1903)  a  difficult  engineer- 
ing feat. 

The  architect  of  the  present  building  was  George  B.  Post  and  the 
sculptor  of  the  pediment  (typifying  the  movement  of  American  com- 
merce) was  J.  Q.  A.  Ward. 


32 


Battery 


MANHATTAN 


4  Route 


ROUTE  4- 

SECTION    IV— THE  BATTERY   AND  GOVERNOR'S 
ISLAND. 

Take  Elevated  R.  R.  to  Battery  Plaee  or  Subway  to  Bowling  Green 
and  walk  west. 

The  original  Battery  was  a  line  of  cannon  extending  from  the 
foot  of  Greenwich  Street  to  the  intersection  of  Whitehall  and  Water 
Streets.  The  work  was  begun  by  Governor  Fletcher  (1693)  and 
strengthened  about  1750.  The  land  beyond  this  line  was  under  water 
until  after  1800. 

43.  The  Aquarium,  built  about  1807-11  as  the  South  West  Bat- 
tery, to  defend  New  York.  Land  under  water  was  ceded  to  the 
Congress  by  the  city  for  thi^  purpose.  The  fort,  about  300  feet  from 
shore,  later  called  "  Castle  Clinton,"  was  built  on  a  mole  and  con- 
nected with  the  city  by  a  bridge.  The  embrazures  for  the  30  heavy 
guns  may  still  be  seen.  In  1822  it  was  ceded  to  the  State  and  in 
1823  leased  to  the  city  and  in  1824  was  leased  as  a  public  amuse- 
ment hall^  known  as  Castle  Garden.  It  was  roofed  over,  and  was  the 
scene  of  Lafayette's-'  reception  in  1824.  In  1847  it  became  an  opera 
house.  Here  Jenny  Lind  sang  (1850)  and  Kossuth  (1851)  was  re- 
ceived. In  1855  it  became  the  Immigration  Bureau  (until  1891),  and 
soon  afterward  the  remainder  of  the  Battery  Park  was  filled  in. 
In  1896  the  building  was  opened  as  an  Aquarium,  and  was  transferred 
in  1902  to  the  care  of  the  New  York  Zoological  Society.  It  is  open 
free  daily  including  Sundays  (except  Monday  forenoons),  from  10 
A.  M.  until  4  p.  M.  in  winter  and  from  9  a.  m.  until  5  p.  M.  in  summer. 

See  within  tablets,  pictures  of  the  orignal  interior,  bombproofs, 
the  old  fireplace  in  the  cellar  and  the  original  casemates.    LTpstairs  see  ^ 
a  blue  platter  presented  by  the  Misses  Earle,  showing  the  fort  in 
1815.    Note  the  great  doors  and  sentry's  exit.*  9,  10 

44.  Statue  of  John  Ericsson  (by  Hartley,  and  presented  by  him 
to  the  city  in  1903),  the  inventor  of  the  Monitor,  which  defeated  the 
Confederate  ironclad  Virginia  (or  Merrimae) ,  at  Hampton  Roads  on 
March  9,  1862,  and  thereby  saved  New  York  from  bombardment.  See 
the  commemorative  tablets  on  the  sides,  representing  the  chief  in- 
ventions of  Ericsson. 


00 


Route  4 


HISTORICAL    GUIDE  Govemor*s 


45.  Flagstaff,  a  little  south  of  the  site  where  Van  Arsdale  tore 
down  the  British  flag  from  the  greased  pole  and  raised  the  American 
Flag  on  Evacuation  Day,  November  25,  1783.  During  the  tunnel 
excavation  there  have  been  found  remains  of  the  pier  and  plank 
road  connecting  with  the  original  shore,  built  by  Commodore  Vander- 
bilt  for  his  steam  ferry  to  Staten  Island.*  11 

46.  Govern-jr*s  Island.  (Secure  pass  several  days  in  advance 
from  Commandant,  Fort  Jay.) 

The  Indian  name  of  the  irland  (about  65  acres,  exclusive  of  the  recently 
"made  land")  was  Pagganck.  and  tlie  Dutch  Nooteu,  or  \ut  Island:  it  was 
bought  in  1637  from  the  Indians  by  Wouter  Van  Twiller.  Here  he  built  a 
saw-mill  and  pastured  goats.  In  1698  it  was  set  aside  by  the  Assembly  for 
the  benefit  of  the  royal  governors,  hence  its  present  name.  It  was  temporarily 
a  quarantine  station  for  Cierman  Protestants  or  Palatines  in  1710.  In^  1730  it 
became  part  of  New  York  City  and  in  1788  of  the  County  of  New  York.  In 
1755  Sir  Wm.  Pepperell's  regiment  en  route  for  Canada  was  quartered  here. 
In  April,  1776,  Colonel  Prescott's  Bunker  Hill  regiment  of  Continental  troops 
occupied  the  island  and  threw  up  fortifications  which  they  held  until  after  the 

34 


Island 


MANHATTAN 


4  Route 


Rattle  of  Long  Island,  when  all  retreated  in  safety  to  Manhattan.  The  British 
held  it  from  1776  to  1783.  Little  remains  of  the  old  works  except  the  wkll  on 
the  eastern  sitie.  In  1790  Columbia  College  was  given  possession  of  the  island 
for  a  time  with  the  right  to  lease  it  for  a  term  of  twenty-one  years.  The 
present  fortifications  were  begun  about  1794  and  completed  in  1812.  Fort 
Columbus  replaced  part  of  the  old  works  in  1809  and  Castle  Williams  was  com- 
pleted in  181 1.  In  1800  the  island  was  ceded  by  the  State  to  the  Federal  gov- 
ernment, and  in  182 1  it  became  a  military  heachiuarters.  In  1852  it  was  the 
chief  depot  of  the  United  States  Recruiting  Service  and  military  prisoners  were 
confined  here  during  the  Civil  War.  In  1878  the  island  became  the  head- 
quarters of  the  Department  of  the  East. 

Take  Governor's  Island  Ferry,  near  the  Barge  Office, 

After  landing,  take  central  path,  passing  on  the  left  the  department 
offices  and  on  the  right  piles  of  old  ordnance.  The  Military  Museum 
contains  many  relics  of  former  wars. 

Fort  Jay  (old  Fort  Columbus)  has  a  well  preserved  moat,  draw- 
bridge, parapet  and  guns.    The  barracks  here  are  still  in  use. 

Castle  Williams  is  used  as  a  miUtary  prison.*  12 

Note  the  Saluting  Battery  on  the  south  shore.  Much  land  has 
been  reclaimed  from  the  bay.  The  South  East  Battery  is  a  small 
w^ork  well  preserved. 

The  Chapel  of  St.  Cornelius  contains  several  trophies  and  com- 
memorative banners.  The  house  of  the  Commander  of  the  De- 
partment of  the  East  is  on  the  old  Parade  Ground,  flanked  by  two 
cannon. 

Interesting  water  trips  may  also  be  made  from,  the  Battery  to  the  . 
Statue  of  Liberty  (boats  hourly,  25  cents),  on  Bedloe's  or 
Liberty  Island.  This  island  was  patented  to  Isaac  Bedloe  by  Governor 
Nicoll  when  it  was  known  as  Oyster  Island  (called  for  a  short  time 
Love  Island).  Captain  Kennedy  became  the  proprietor  after  the 
death  of  Bedloe.  In  1758  the  island  was  purchased  by  the  city  for  a 
small-pox  hospital.  About  1800  it  was  ceded  to  the  United  States. 
Fort  Wood  was  built  here  as  a  defence  for  the  city.  Within  the 
star-shaped  fort  is  the  Statue  of  Liberty,  by  Bartholdi,  completed  in 
1883  and  presented  by  France.  The  pedestal  was  erected  by  popular 
subscription  in  the  United  States ;  the  statue  was  unveiled  in  1886. 
Note  the  view  from  the  head  of  the  statue  over  the  Bay,  Staten 
Island,  Long  Island,  Manhattan  and  New  Jersey.*  13 

Ellis  Island  (pass  secured  from  the  Commissioner  of  Immigration; 
boats  frequently  from  Pier  i.  North  River). 

In  Dutch  days  this  was  a  favorite  resort  for  oyster  feasts,  hence 
:alled  Oyster  Island.  Later  it  was  known  as  Gibbet  Island  from 
/he  fact  that  a  pirate  by  the  name  of  Gibbs  was  hung  there.  It  was 
sold  by  the  State  to  the  National  Government  in  1808  and  was  long 
occupied  by  a  magazine.  In  1891  it  became  an  immigrant  station  and, 
after  a  fire  in  1897,  the  present  buildings  were  erected. 

35 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


MANHATTAN 


ADDENDA— 1912 

*  I.  (p.  15)  No.  13  Greenwich  Street  was  once  the  United  States 
Hotel:  see  marble  pillars. 

No.  15  Greenwich  Street  was  the  Punta  Rosrsa  House,  the  name  of 
which  may  still  be  deciphered. 

'  No.  27  Greenwich  Street  was  an  old  mansion  of  which  the  massive 
fiont  door  remains. 

*  I  a.  (p.  17)  The  Stevens  House  was  the  original  Delmonico's  res- 
taurant. Burr  is  said  to  have  occupied  the  old  house.  No.  5  Morris 
Street. 

*  2.  (p.  17)  A  stained  glass  window  in  the  Bowling  Green  Building,  by 
E.  A.  Abbey,  represents  Dutchmen  rolling  ninepins  here,  but  there  are 
no  records  to  prove  that  bowling  was  done  here  before  1732,  when  the 
English  game  was  played. 

*  3.  (p.  19)  There  are  three  tablets  on  the  Custom  House: 

(1)  (on  the  west  side  of  the  entrance  staircase),  erected  191 2  by  the 
Order  of  the  Alhambra,  to  mark  the  site  of  the  first  mass  said  on  the 

j  island  of  Manhattan,  in  the  Governor's  residence,  in  1683,  by  the  Rev. 
I  Thomas  Harvey,  S.J.,  chaplain  to  Governor  Dongan. 

(2)  (next  to  i)  erected  by  the  New  York  State  Society  of  the  Order 
of  Founders  and  Patriots  of  America  in  1909,  to  mark  the  site  of  Fort 
Amsterdam,  later  Fort  George,  the  exploration  of  the  Hudson  River, 
the  founding  of  New  Amsterdam,  and  the  establishment  of  American 
independence;  on  the  tablet  is  inscribed  an  outline  of  Fort  Crcorge  from 
a  plan  made  in  1774  by  Gerard  Bancker. 

(3)  (within  the  rotunda)  erected  by  the  Holland  Society  of  New 
York,  originally  placed  in  1890  on  a  building  in  Steamship  Row,  to  mark 
the  site  of  the  first  substantial  church  edifice  on  the  island  of  Manhattan 
and  of  Government  House. 

*  4.  (p.  20)  Old  buildings  at  Nos.  i  and  2  State  Street,  comer  of  White- 
hall, used  until  19 12  by  the  Seamen's  Church  Institute.     These  were 

I  residences  of  the  Cole  family  before  1800  and  are  still  owned  by  their 
ij  descendants. 

The  Eastern  Hotel,  one  block  below  at  No.  i  South  Street,  was  a 
||  warehouse,  originally  two  stories  high,  erected  in  1796  by  John  Cole, 

II  flour  merchant  and  captain  of  a  packet  ship.    The  beams  are  of  solid 
mahogany  brought  over  from  South  America  in  ballast.    The  building  was 

;  reconstructed  as  a  hotel  and  opened  in  1822  as  the  Eagle  Hotel  under  the 
I  management  of  Frank  Foot,  a  relaf  ve  of  Daniel  Webster.    Here  were 

37 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 

entertained  Robert  Fulton,  Jenny  Lind,  Daniel  Webster,  Commodore 
Vanderbilt  and  other  notables. 

*  5.  (p.  20)  12'  Tablet  in  the  court  of  the  Produce  Exchange,  facing 
Stone  Street,  erected  19 10  by  the  New  York  Schoolmasters'  Club  to  mark 
the  site  of  the  school  of  Adam  Roelantsen,  1638. 

*  6.  (p.  25)  It  is  claimed  that  the  body  of  Lord  Sterling  has  been 
removed  from  this  grave.  The  body  of  Fulton  is  to  be  removed  to  the 
Fulton  Water  Gate  on  Riverside  Drive.  The  body  of  Philip  Kearny 
was  removed  April  11,  1912,  to  Arlington,  Va.,  after  lying  in  state  in 
Trinity  Church  and  City  Hall.  The  Statues  of  the  EvangeHsts  in  the 
tower  were  the  gift  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whitehouse;  see  tablet  erected  in 
the  porch  of  the  tower  in  1901. 

*  7.  (pp.  26  and  28)  23'  Tablet  at  48  Wall  Street,  erected  1909  by 
the  Society  of  Colonial  Wars  in  the  State  of  New  York  to  mark  a  bastion 
of  the  Wall. 

*  8.  (p.  30)  Lantern  and  Memorial  Tablet  to  commemorate  the 
fidelity  of  the  officers  and  crew  of  the  steamer  Titanic  (destroyed  1912 
by  an  iceberg)  to  be  erected  by  public  subscription  on  the  new  building 
of  the  Seaman's  Institute  at  the  foot  of  Coenties  Slip  in  1912-13 

See  good  specimens  of  early  cannon  at  No.  61  Front  Stioet,  between 
Old  Slip  and  Cuyler's  Alley.  An  old  cannon  is  set  in  the  ground  at  the 
comer  of  Water  Street  and  Old  Slip. 

*  9.  (p.  33)  Tablet  on  the  west  wall  north  of  the  entrance,  erected 
1909  by  the  New  York  Zoological  Society  to  mark  events  of  importance 
in  connection  with  the  history  of  the  Aquarium. 

Tablets  within,  erected  by  the  City,  to  commemorate  the  acquisition, 
1896,  of  thir,  building  by  the  Park  Department  for  an  Aquarium. 

*  10.  (p.  33)  43'  Statue  of  Verrazzano,  east  of  the  Aquarium, 
erected  1909,  by  Italian  residents  of  New  York  City,  to  commemorate 
the  visit  of  Veriazzano  in  1524  to  New  York  Harbor. 

*  II.  (p.  34)  The  present  flagstaff  was  originally  a  steel  mast  from 
the  yacht  Constitution, 

*  12.  (p.  35^  Castle  Williams  was  built  in  1809-1811  by  Gen.  Jonathan 
Williams,  Chief  Engineer  of  the  American  Army,  as  a  defence  in  the  War 
of  18 12.  Gen.  Williams  also  built  or  supervised  the  construction  of 
Castle  Clinton  and  Fort  Lafayette. 

*  13.  (p.  35)  Tablet  witliin  the  entrance  to  the  pedestal  of  the  Statue 
of  Liberty,  erected  by  Georgina  Schuyler  to  the  memory  of  Emma 
Lazarus,  who  in  1883  wrote  The  New  Colossus, 

33 


EXCURSION    NO,   VI.— FRAUNCES  TAVERN. 


By  Frank  Bergen  Kelley. 

Corrected  with  the  aid  of  Edward  Ilagaman  Hall,  Secretary  of  the 
American  Scenic  and  Historic  Preservation  Society  and 
Henry  Russell  Drowne,  Secretary  of  the 
Sons  of  the  Revolution. 

Copyright,  1898  and  1905,  by  the  City  History  Club  of  New  York. 
Revised  1912 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


MANHATTAN 


3  Route 


FRAUNCES  TAVERN  SITE. 

The  site  on  which  Fraunces  Tavern  stands  was  originally  on  or  nearly  on 
the  edge  of  the  shore  line  of  the  East  River,  subsequently  extended  two  or 
more  blocks  by  the  filling-in  process.  In  or  hcfore  1671  it  came  into  the  pos- 
session of  Col.  Stephen  Van  Cortlandt,  son  of  Oloff  Stevenson  Van  Cortlandt, 
a  soldier  of  the  Dutch  West  India  Company,  who  arrived  at  New  Amsterdam 
in  1637  and  was  appointed  Commissary  or  Superintendent  of  Cargoes  at  the 
Port  of  New  Amsterdam.  In  1642  he  married  Annetje  Loockerman,  sister  ot 
the  leading  merchant  of  New  Amsterdam  and  an  Indian  trader.  He  estab- 
lished a  brewery  on  "  Brouwer  (brewery)  Straat  "  now  Stone  Street,  about 
1648,  was  Burgomaster  1655-C5  and  one  of  the  Commissioners  to  arrange  for 
the  surrender  of  New  Amsterdam.  His  descendants  were  lords  of  \'an  Cort- 
landt Manor.  Col.  Stephen  Van  Cortlandt  built  a  cottage  on  the  corner  of 
Broad  and  Dock  (later  Queen),  now  Pearl  Street,  in  1671  and  brought  his 
young  wife,  (lertrude  Schuyler,  here  to  live.  The  "Gracht"  or  Canal  lay  in  front 
of  the  house  until  it  was  filled  up  in  1678.  In  1700  he  deeded  his  property  to  his 
son-in-law,  Etienne  (or  Stephen)  DeLancey,  a  Huguenot  nobleman  and  an  active 
merchant  in  the  city. 


INDEX  TO  PLATE  VIII. 

4.  I  Broadway,  site  of  the  Kennedy  House. 

5.  Site  of  gilded  equestrian  statue  of  George  III. 

6.  Site  of  Governor  Stuyvesant's  house,  erected  1658,  later  called 
the    White  Hall." 

7.  Head  of  Whitehall  Ferry  slip,  as  shown  on  Ratzer's  map,  1767. 

8.  Head  of  Whitehall  Ferry  slip,  as  shown  on  Hill's  map,  1782; 
place  wdiere  Washington  embarked  after  his  farewell  in  Fraunces 
Tavern,  1783. 

9.  Fraunces  Tavern. 

10.  73  Pearl  Street;,  site  of  Stadt  Huys. 

11.  81  Pearl  Street,  site  of  first  printing  press  in  the  Colony  of 
New  York. 

12.  Scene  of  capture  of  British  arms  by  Marinus  Willet,  June  6, 
1775. 

13.  Site  of  publication  of  first  newspaper  in  New  York, 


41 


Route  3 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Fraunces 


Former  Appearance  of  Fraunces  Tavern. 

Copied  from  Valentine's  Manual  of  the  Corporation  of  New  York  of  1854. 


Fraunces  Ta\ern  is  one  of  the  oldest  buildings  in  New  York  City 
and  was  the  scene  of  many  stirring  events  during  the  Revolutionary 
Period.  It  divides  honors  with  St.  Paul's  Chapel,  Washington's 
Headquarters,  and  the  Van  Cortlandt  Mansion  in  its  connection 
with  memories  of  Washington  in  New  York.  The  building  has 
recently  been  restored  to  its  original  proportions  and  is  now  open 
daily  to  the  public. 

Location:  Southeast  corner  of  Broad  and  Pearl  Streets,  en- 
trance on  Pearl  Street.  Take  Subzvay  or  surface  cars  dozen  Broadway 
to  the  Bowling  Green;  walk  east  to  Broad  Street  and  soutJi  to  the 
Tavern;  or  take  zvest-side  Elevated  lines  to  Battery  Place  and  thence 
east  to  Broad  Street. 

See  tablet  on  the  P>road  Street  side,  a  memorial  to  Frederick 
Samuel  Tallmadge,  through  whose  beneficence  the  restoration  by  the 
Sons  of  the  Revolution  was  made  possible. 

43 


Tavern 


MANHATTAN  3  Route 


CHRONOLOGY. 

1719. — Built  by  Etienne  DeLancey  as  a  residence.  It  descended  to  his 
son,  Judge  and  Governor  James  DeLancey,  and  to  his  son, 
Oliver  DeLancey.  At  some  time  before  1757,  it  became  the 
residence  of  Col.  Joseph  Robinson,  partner  of  Oliver  DeLancey, 
James  DeLancey  having  moved  to  his  mansion  on  site  of 
present  No.  113  Broadway.    (Excursion  I,  25.) 

1757. — It  became  the  store  and  warehouse  of  DeLancey,  Robinson  & 
Co.,  who  announced  in  Gaines'  Mercury,  May  28,  1757,  that 
they  had  moved  into  Col.  Robinson's  late  dwelling  next  to 
the  Royal  Exchange,  and  should  there  continue  to  sell  all  sorts 
European  and  East  Indian  goods — shoes,  shirts,  white  and 
checked,  for  the  army,  with  a  variety  of  other  goods." 

1762. — January  15. — Purchased  by  Samuel  Fraunces,  called  Black 
Sam,"  from  his  swarthy  appearance,  he  being  a  West  Indian. 
Fraimces  had  been  made  a  "  freeman  "  of  New  York  while 
an  innkeeper  in  1755.  He  opened  here  the  Queen's  Head  or 
Queen  Charlotte  Tavern,  named  in  honor  of  the  young  consort 
of  George  III. 

1765.  — Leased  to  John  Jones  as  a  tavern,  while  Fraunces  for  a  time 

took  charge  of  Vauxhall  Gardens.    (Excursion  I,  21.) 

1766.  — Leased  by  Bolton  &  Sigell  (Sigel). 

1768.  — April  8. — The  Chamber  of  Commerce,  composed  of  twenty- 

four  importers  and  merchants,  organized,  with  John  Cruger  as 
President,  in  the  Long  Room,  so  called  in  imitation  of  the  long 
Indian  lodges  used  for  tribal  meetings.  Monthly  meetings  of 
the  Chamber  were  held  for  some  time  "  at  Bolton  &  Sigel's, 
precisely  at  the  usual  hour,  six-thirty.'* 

1769.  — Richard  Bolton  alone,  in  charge.    One  or  more  meetings  were 

held  to  consider  the  passage  of  a  second  Non-Importation  Agree- 
ment.    (Wilson's  Memorial  History,  II,  391-7.) 

1770.  — Fraunces  again  in  possession  of  the  Queen's  Head  Tavern, 

"  refitted  in  the  most  genteel  and  convenient  manner  for  the 
reception  and  entertainment  of  those  gentlemen,  ladies  and  others 
who  used  to  favor  him  with  their  company,"  dinners  and  suppers 
being  served  "  not  only  to  lodgtts  but  to  those  who  live  at  a 
convenient  distance."  The  Long  Room  was  also  used  for  a 
series  of  lectures. 


43 


Route  3  HISTORICAL  GUIDE  Fraunces 

1774.  — April. — The  Sons  of  Liberty  and  the  Vigilance  Committee  met 
here  to  protest,  as  the  sliip  London  liad  just  docked  at  the  wharf 
of  the  East  India  Company  in  the  vicinity  of  Fraunces  Tavern 
with  a  cargo  of  tea.  The  meeting  resulted  in  those  who  partici- 
pated marching  to  the  dock,  w^here  the  entire  cargo  was  thrown 
overboard. 

1774- — May  14. — A  meeting  of  merchants  was  held  here  to  organize 
the  "  Committee  of  Correspondence,"  to  whose  firm  and  con- 
sistent adherence  to  the  idea  of  union,  the  Continental  Congress 
owed  its  origin.  (Wilson,  II,  p.  434.)  It  was  also  the  head- 
quarters of  the  Social  Club,  among  whose  members  were  John 
Jay,  Gouverneur  Morris,  R.  R.  Livingston  and  Morgan  Lewis. 

1775.  — The  ]\Iassachusetts  delegates  to  the  Second  Continental  Con- 

gress stopped  here  on  their  way  to  Philadelphia. 

1775.  — August  23. — The  building  was  struck  by  a  shot  from  the  man- 

of-war  Asia,  giving  rise  to  the  oft-quoted  lines  of  Philip  Freneau : 

"  Scarce  a  broadside  was  ended  till  'nother  began  again, 
By  Jove !    It  was  nothing  but  fire  away,  Flanagan ! 
Some  thought  him  saluting  his  Sallys  and  Nancys, 
'Till  he  drove  a  round  shot  through  the  roof  of  Sam  Francis." 

Ed.  of  1786  reads: 

"  At  first  we   supposed   it  was   only  a  sham, 

Till  he   drove  a  round  ball  through  the  roof  of  black  Sam." 

1776.  — Fraunces'  daughter  Phoebe  revealed  the  plot  to  assassinate 

Washington,  leading  to  the  execution  of  her  lover,  Hickey,  who 
was  a  British  deserter  and  had  become  one  of  Washington's 
bodyguard.  At  the  time  Phoebe  was  acting  as  housekeeper 
for  the  Commander  at  his  headquarters  in  the  Richmond  Hill 
Mansion  (Excursion  II).  Fraunces  joined  the  American  army, 
and  it  is  supposed  that  he  had  to  give  up  the  Tavern  during  the 
British  occupancy  of  New  York,  but  he  assumed  ownership  im- 
mediately after  the  war  and  continued  in  possession  for  some 
years.    In  1789  he  became  Washington's  steward. 

1783. — November  25. — Governor  George  Clinton  gave  a  banquet  on 
Evacuation  Day  to  General  Washington,  the  French  ambassador, 
Chevalier  de  la  Luzerne,  and  many  Revolutionary  officers  and 
civilians.  Thirteen  toasts  were  given,  beginning  with  "  The 
United  States  of  America  "  and  ending  with  **May  This  Day 
Be  a  Lesson  for  Princes."  Fireworks  followed  on  the  Bowling 
Green. 

44 


Tavern 


MANHATTAN 


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1783. — December  4. — Washington's  Farewell  to  forty-four  officers,  in- 
cluding Generals  Greene,  Knox,  Wayne,  Steuben,  Carroll,  Lincoln, 
Kosciusko,  Moultrie,  and  Hamilton,  Governor  Clinton,  Colonel 
Tallmadge  and  others.  Says  Colonel  Tallmadge,  in  original  jour- 
nal, now  at  Fraunces  Tavern : 

"We  had  been  assembled  but  a  few  minutes  when  His  Excellency  entered  the 
room.  His  emotion,  too  strong  to  be  concealed,  seemed  to  be  reciprocated  by 
every  officer  present.  After  partaking  of  a  slight  refreshment  amid  almost 
breathless  silence,  the  General  filled  his  glass  with  wine  and  turning  to  his 
officers  said:  '  With  a  heart  full  of  love  and  gratitude  I  must  now  take  my 
leave  of  you.  I  most  devoutly  wish  that  your  latter  days  may  be  as  pros- 
perous and  happy  as  your  former  ones  have  been  glorious  and  honorable.* 
After  the  officers  had  taken  a  glass  of  wine,  the  General  added:  *I  cannot 
come  to  each  of  you  to  take  mv  leave,  but  shall  be  obliged  to  you  if  each  will 
come  and  take  me  by  the  hand.'  General  Knox,  being  nearest  to  him,  turned 
to  the  Commander-in-Chief,  who,  suffused  in  tears,  was  incapable  of  utterance, 
but  grasped  his  hand,  when  they  embraced  each  other  in  silence.  In  the  same 
affectionate  manner  every  officer  in  the  room  marched  up  to,  kissed  and  parted 
with  his  General-in-Chief.  Such  a  scene  of  sorrow  and  weeping  I  had  never 
before  witnessed,  and  hope  I  may  never  be  called  upon  to  witness  again.  Not 
a  word  was  uttered  to  break  the  solemn  silence  that  prevailed,  or  to  interrupt 
the  tenderness  of  the  occasion." 

Thence  Washington  proceeded  to  the  Whitehall  Ferry  (Excursion 
VII 19)  and  took  his  departure  from  the  city. 

1785. — The  Tavern  was  sold  by  Fraunces  and  came  into  various 
hands.  After  the  Revolution  the  St.  Andrew's  Society,  the 
Governors  of  the  New  York  Hospital,  the  New  York  Society 
and  the  Society  for  Promoting  Arts  and  Agriculture,  all  met 
here.    Balls  were  also  held  in  the  Long  Room. 

1832. — Interior  partly  burnt  out  and  a  flat  roof  added. 

1837. — Leased  by  John  Gardner,  a  hotel  proprietor  who  had  been  biirnt 
out  in  the  great  fire  of  1835. 

1844.— The  New  York  Yacht  Club  was  founded  here. 

1852,  June  15.— While  called  the  Broad  Street  House  and  kept  by  E. 
Beaumeyer,  the  Tavern  was  visited  by  a  very  disastrous  fire, 
after  which  two  stories  were  added,  making  it  five  stories  high. 
Further  alterations  were  made  about  1890,  when  the  taproom 
was  lowered  to  the  level  of  the  street  and  the  ground  floor  win- 
dows modernized. 

1883,  December  4. — On  the  looth  anniversary  of  Washington's 
Farewell  the  Society  of  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution  was  formally 
organized  in  the  Long  Room  and  met  here  annually  for  many 
years. 

45 


Route  3 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Fraunces 


THE  PRESERVATION  OF  FRAUNCES  TAVERN. 

1889-1903. — At  the  time  of  the  centennial  celebration  of  Washington's 
inauguration  (1889),  attention  was  directed  to  the  interesting 
associations  of  the  building,  and  during  the  next  thirteen  years 
the  Sons  of  the  Revolution  made  several  efforts  to  purchase 
the  property  in  order  to  preserve  and  restore  it.  Efforts  were 
also  made  by  patriotic  individuals  and  societies  to  insure  its 
preservation.  These  finally  resulted,  in  1903,  in  the  passage  of 
an  ordinance  by  the  Board  of  Estimate  and  Apportionment  to 
buy  the  Tavern  and  half  a  block  on  which  it  stands  for  a  Revo- 
lutionary museum  and  park.  In  the  spring  of  1904  Messrs. 
Alexander  R.  Thompson,  James  Mortimer  Montgomery  and  Robert 
Olyphant,  on  behalf  of  the  Society  of  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution, 
successfully  negotiated  a  contract  for  the  purchase  of  the  prop- 
erty. At  the  same  time  these  gentlemen  induced  the  city  to 
rescind  the  resolution  authorizing  the  taking  of  the  property  by 
condemnation.  The  .  mayor  told  them  that  they  were  the  only 
delegation  which  had  called  on  him  for  the  purpose  of  saving 
the  city's  money.  Thus  the  City  of  New  York  was  saved  the 
expense  of  acquiring  the  property,  preserving  and  mamtaining  it, 
and  yet  the  restoration  of  this  shrine  of  patriotism  was  assured. 

At  the  time  the  property  was  purchased  it  was  subject  to  a 
lease  with  several  years  to  run.  Before  the  lease  expired  Mr. 
Frederick  Samuel  Tallmadge,  late  president  of  the  society,  died, 
leaving  a  large  bequest  to  the  society.  This  furnished  ample 
funds  for  the  restoration  of  the  Tavern,  which  was  planned  with 
the  greatest  care. 

1904. — July  30. — Transfer  of  the  property  to  the  Sons  of  the  Revo- 
lution recorded  in  the  Register's  Office. 

1906-7. — Restoration  of  the  building. 

1907. — May  I. — Office  of  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution  opened  here. 

1907. — December  4. — Formal  occupation  and  dedication  (on  the  124th 
anniversary  of  Washington's  Farewell  "  here)  of  the  building 
by  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution. 

46 


Tavern 


MANHATTAN 


3  Route 


Fraunces  Tavern  in  1904. 


The  Society  of  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution  has  been  instituted 
to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  the  men  who  achieved  American  inde- 
pendence, to  promote  and  assist  in  the  proper  celebration  of  Washing- 
ton's Birthday,  the  Fourth  of  July,  and  the  battles  and  prominent  events 
of  the  War  of  the  Revolution;  to  collect  and  preserve  records  and 
memorials  relative  to  that  war;  to  inspire  among  the  members  and 
their  descendants  the  patriotic  spirit  of  their  forefathers,  and  respect 
for  the  principles  for  which  the  patriots  of  the  Revolution  contended. 
The  Society  now  has  over  twenty-two  hundred  members  in  the  State 
of  New  York. 

•  Note. — For  other  historic  events  in  the  neighborhood  of  Fraunces 
Tavern  (Map,  p.  40),  see  Excursion  VII,  New  York  Citv  South  of 
Wall  Street. 


47 


3  Route 


MANHATTAN  Fraunces  Tavern 


THE  BUILDING  AND  ITS  RESTORATION 

There  is  no  known  view  of  Fraunces  Tavern  before  1854.  Fraunces' 
own  description  when  he  offered  the  building  for  sale  in  1776  reads  as 
follows :  "  The  Queen's  Head  Tavern  is  three  stories  high,  with  a 
tile  and  lead  roof,  has  fourteen  fireplaces,  a  most  excellent  large  kitchen, 
fine  dry  cellars,  with  good  convenient  offices,  etc." 

The  view  of  New  York  from  Brooklyn  Heights,  in  1798,  shows  its 
top  as  gambrel-roofed  and  hipped.  See  Hollyer's  print  of  its  proposed 
restoration  in  Mrs.  Pierce's  Landmark  of  Fraunces  Tavern."  Also 
see  views  in  the  Magazine  of  American  History,  Vol.  VIII,  p.  144, 
and  in  Bryant  and  Gay's  Popular  History  of  the  U.  S.,"  showing 
alterations  in  the  first  story. 

The  architect  of  the  restored  building  was  William  H.  Mersereau 
and  the  contractor  S.  A.  McGuire.  Mr.  Mersereau  has  endeavored 
to  restore  the  building  so  far  as  possible  to  its  original  form.  When 
the.  added  stories  were  taken  down  he  studied  and  followed  the  old 
roof-lines  and  rafters.  The  modern  bricks  and  stone  were  removed 
and  yellow  bricks  to  maich  the  originals  were  imported  from  Hol- 
land for  the  Broad  Street  side,  and  on  the  Pearl  Street  side  the 
old  style  red  bricks  were  matched  with  bricks  from  old  dwellings  in 
the  vicinity  of  Baltimore,  Md.  The  first  floor  was  raised  to  its  former 
level,  the  windows  changed  to  conform  with  the  original  ones  and  the 
Long  Room  restored  to  its  old  dimensions.  All  the  original  timbers 
were  retained  above  and  below  the  Long  Room  and  every  brick  and 
piece  of  lumber,  so  far  as  possibl'^,  of  the  original  building  was  left 
in  place.  The  present  appearance  of  the  building  is  believed  to  be 
practically  the  same  as  during  the  Revolutionary  period. 

The  first  lioor  is  still  used  as  a  restaurant.* 

On  the  second  floor  is  the  celebrated  Long  Room;  note  the 
portraits  of  Frederick  Samuel  Tallmadge  and  John  Austin  Stevens, 
the  table  made  from  old  timbers  of  the  building  and  the  tablets. 

In  the  Museum  on  the  third  floor  are  cases  holding  Revolutionary 
relics — flags,  china,  coins,  medals,  military  commissions,  letters,  deeds 
and  other  old  documents,  including  the  original  deeds  of  the  Tavern, 
showing  the  transfer  of  the  property  from  the  De  Lanceys  and  subse- 
quent owners.  The  Library  is  devoted  mainly  to  American  History  and 
the  men  and  events  of  the  Revolution. 

The  top  floor  is  used  as  a  dining-room  for  members  of  the  Society, 
and  on  the  walls  is  a  collection  of  engraved  portraits  of  W^ashington. 

A  caretaker  dressed  in  the  style  of  the  Revolution  explains  the 
exhibits  to  visitors. 

♦Select  restaurant  for  ladies  and  gentlemen,  a  la  carte,  Emil  Westerhurg,  proprietor. 

48 


NOTES 


NOTE  BY  ASA  BIRD  GARDINER 

The  Gardner  family,  who  acquired  the  Tavern  in  1837,  came  from 
Fifeshire,  Scotland,  about  1760,  and  had  no  connection  with  the  Gardiner 
family.  The  name  of  the  lessee  was  Robert,  not  John,  and  he  had  not 
been  a  hotel  proprietor.  The  property  descended-  in  the  female  line  to 
the  Keteltas  family,  from  whom  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution  purchased 
the  property. 

The  Story  of  Phoebe  Fraunces  (p.  44)  is  of  doubtful  origin;  it  is 
also  doubtful  whether  Samuel  Fraunces  ever  served  in  the  American 
Army.  He  was  probably  a  mild  Tory,  and  continued  to  keep  the  tavern 
for  British  Officers  during  the  Revolution. 


48a 


NOTES. 


48b 


EXCURSION  NO.  I.— CITY  HALL  TO  WALL  STREET. 

By  Frank  Bergen  Kelley 

Corrected  with  the  aid  of  Albert  Ulmann  and  Edward  Hagaman 

Hall. 

Copyright,  1902,  by  the  City  History  Club  of  New  York. 
Revised  1905,  1909  and  1912 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


50a 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


INDEX  TO  HOLLAND  MAP  (p.  50) 


G  Aleat  Market. 
H  Fly  Market. 
I  Peck's  Market. 
K  Oswego  Market. 
O  St.  Paul's. 
P  Trinity. 

Q  St.  George's  Chapel. 
S  New  Dutch  Church. 


T  Lutheran  Church. 

V  Calvinist  Church. 

W  French  Protestant  Church. 
X  Quaker  Meeting. 

Y  Presbyterian  Meeting. 
Z  Baptist  Meeting. 

a  Moravian  Meeting. 

b  New  Lutheran  Meeting, 


sob 


MANHATTAN 


5  Route 


Bibliography 

Works  by  Janvier,  Ulmann,  Hemstreet,  Wilson  and  Hill  mentioned 

in  Excursion  VII. 
"Historic  New  York;"  papers  on  "King's  College,"  ''Old  Wells," 

"  Old  Prisons  and  Old  Taverns." 
"Reports  of  the  American  Scenic  and  Historic  Preservation  Society: 

articles  on  "  The  Centenary  of  City  Hall,"  and  "  The  Old 

Martyrs'  Prison";  "A  Brief  History  of  City  Hall  Park"  (1910 

Report). 

"  Works  of  Art  Belonging  to  the  City  of  New  York,"  compiled  by 

the  Municipal  Art  Commission. 
"  St.  Paul's  Chapel,"  by  Charles  F.  Wingate,  and  "  The  Montgomerie 

Siege,"  by  T.  U.  Harper  (pub.  by  A.  B.  King  &  Co.). 

This  part  of  New  Yorjc  was  not  settled  until  long  after  the  Dutch  flag 
ceased  to  wave  over  New  Amsterdam.  City  Hall  Park  was  the  old  Dutch 
Vlacte  (Flag  or  pasture,  later  called  the  Common,  granted  to  the  city  cor- 
poration in  1686  by  the  Dongan  charter.  During  the  later  English  period 
and  the  days  of  the  Revolution  it  was  a  place  for  public  demonstrations,  mass 
meetings,  etc.  It  was  fenced  in  about  1785,  and  an  iron  rail  fence  was  pro- 
vided in  1821,  with  gates  on  the  south,  west  and  east  sides. 

The  main  thoroughfare  was  lower  Broadway,  Chatham  Street  (now  Park 
Rov/)  and  the  Bowery.  The  shore  line  has  been  extended  two  or  three  blocks 
on  either  side.  The  King's  Farm,  which  !ay  west  of  Broadway,  between  Wall 
and  Warren  Streets,  originally  belonged  to  the  West  India  Company  and  was 
later  granted,  together  with  the  Jans  or  Bogardus  Farm  north  of  Warren 
Street  (Excursion  II)  to  Trinity  Church.  Many  of  the  street  names  have  a 
direct  connection  with  early  residents. 

XoTE. — The  *  refers  to. Addenda,  1912,  pp.  65-6. 


SI 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


ROUTE  5. 

SECTION  I— CITY  HALL  PARK  AND  VICINITY. 
(Figures  refer  to  Plates  X  and  XI ;  see  also  IX  and  XII)o 
Take  Subway  to  Brooklyn  Bridge  or  City  Hall. 


CHAMBEfiS  ST. 


P/A^/IAM  OF 
C/ TV //ALL  PAR.H 

AND  v/a^/rK 


Plate  XI.    Route  5.  C  K, 


52 


City  Hall 


MANHATTAN 


5  Route 


I.  City  Hall,  a  fine  example  of  the  Italian  Renaissance,  John 
!McComb,  Jr.,  architect.  The  foundation  stone  was  laid  on  the  site 
of  the  old  almshouse  by  Mayor  Edward  Livingston,  September  20, 
1803.  The  front  and  sides  are  of  Stockbridge  (Mass.)  marble,  the 
rear  built  of  brownstone  from  motives  of  economy;  the  common 
assertion  that  it  was  due  to  the  idea  that  the  city  would  not  extend 
north  of  the  building  being  untrue,  as  the  city  had  already  advanced 
beyond  Chatham  Square.  The  building  was  first  occupied  by  the  city 
,^.)vcrnnicnt  on  Aug.  12.  181 1,  although  it  was  not  completed  until  1812, 
in  the  mayoralty  of  DeWitt  Clinton.  Among  the  important  events 
celebrated  here  were  the  200th  anniversary  of  the  discovery  of  Man- 
hattan by  Henry  Hudson,  Captain  Hull's  victory  over  the  British 
ship  Guerriere,  the  visit  of  Lafayette  in  1824,  the  opening  of  the  Erie 
Canal,  November  4,  1825 ;  the  Croton  Water  opening,  October  14, 
1842;  the  laying  of  the  Atlantic  Cable,  1858  (at  which  time  the 
building  caught  fire  and  was  badly  injured)  ;  the  funeral  of  General 
Worth,  1857;  the  visit  of  Albert  Edward,  Prince  of  Wales,  i86c,  and 
the  25Cth  anniversary  of  the  City  Charter,  1903.  The  building  is  open 
from  10  to  4;  Saturday  10  to  12. 

Ascend  the  spiral  staircase  to  the  Governors'  Room;  see  por- 
traits of  Washington  and  General  James  Clinton  by  Trumbull,  Peter 
Stuyvesant,  Alexander  Hamilton  and  governors  from  1777;  busts  of 
DeWitt  Clinton  and  Henry  Clay;  a  copy  of  Lincoln's  Gettysburg 
speech;  a  section  of  Stuyvesant's  pear  tree;  punch  bowl  used  at  the 
Erie  Canal  celebration;  portraits  of  Hudson  and  Stuyvesant; 
two  desks  of  Washington  and  the  furniture  used  in  the  former  City 
Hall  by  the  Federal  Congress  (Excursion  VH,  21).  A  good  view 
of  the  park  and  its  surroundings  may  be  obtained  from  the  balcony.*  i 

The  Aldermanic  Chamber  contains  some  portraits  and  a  paint- 
ing symboHc  of  New  York  City's  commercial  greatness.  In  the  ad- 
joining Committee  Room  are  portraits  of  Harry  Howard  in  the  uni- 
form of  a  Volunteer  Fireman  and  of  General  McClellan.  The  old 
Council  Chamber,  now  used  by  the  Board  of  Estimate  and  Apportion- 
ment, contains  portraits  of  national  celebrities. 

On  the  ground  floor  are  the  Mayor's  Reception  Room  contain- 
ing portraits  of  Lafayette  and  of  former  mayors,  and  on  the  ceiling 
plaster  reproductions  of  seals  of  the  United  States,  of  New  York 
State  and  City  from  early  days;  the  City  Library,  comprising  7,000 
volumes,  some  of  great  value,  and  the  Bureau  of  Marriage  Licences. 

53 


Route  5 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


City  Hall 


In  the  corridor  see  a  marble  tablet,  erected  in  1903,  between  md 
descriptive  of  two  tablets  (originally  on  the  roof)  containing  the 
names  of  the  architect,  sculptor  and  of  the  building  committee. 
On  the  opposite  wall  note  the  Dutch  and  Federal  standard  yard 
measure. 

In  the  basement  are  the  Marriage  Room,  Bureau  of  Licenses  and 
some  rooms  once  used  as  prison  cells  when  the  Police  Headquarters 
were  here. 

Outside,  beneath  the  Mayor's  Window,  see  the  tablet  commemorat- 
ing the  reading  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence  to  the  army  here, 
in  Washington's  presence,  July  9,  1776.  (See  painting  of  this  event 
in  the  New  Amsterdam  Theater,  214  West  Forty-second  Street). 

A  tablet  in  the  sidewalk  in  front  of  the  building  marks  the  first 
excavation  for  the  Rapid  Transit  Tunnel  in  1900;  another  tablet 
in  the  City  Hall  Subway  Station  commemorates  the  opening  of  the 
Tunnel  in  1904.  A  portion  of  the  tunnel  of  the  once  proposed  Pneu- 
matic Rapid  Transit  Railway,  constructed  in  1868,  still  remains  un- 
der Broadway  along  the  Park. 

The  Bridcivell  or  common  jail,  built  in  1775,  and  used  by  the 
British  as  a  prison,  stood  between  Broadway  and  the  site  of  City 
Hall.  It  was  torn  down  in  1838,  the  stones  being  used  to  build  the 
old  Tombs  Prison.  Its  great  lock  and  key  are  in  the  building  of  the 
New  York  Historical  Society. 

2,  The  Statue  of  Nathan  Hale,  by  Mac  Monnies,  near  Broad- 
way, opposite  Murray  Street,  "was  erected  by  the  Sons  of  the 
Revolution.    (Excursion  V,  Section  7.)  Nozf  near  E.  zuing  of  City  Hall. 

3.  New  York  Post  Office,  the  third  building  used  in  the  city  for 
the  purpose,  built  in  1875  on  part  of  City  Hall  Park  ceded  in  1867 
by  the  City  to  the  National  Government.  Within  the  corridor,  near 
the  western  entrance,  is  a  tablet  erected  in  1897  by  the  Mary  Wash- 
ington Colonial  Chapter  of  the  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolu- 
tion to  comme^norate  the  erection  of  the  Liberty  Pole  and  the  Battle 
of  Golden  Hill  (see  33  and  38).  One  Liberty  Pole  stood  on  the  City 
Common  about  the  middle  of  Mail  Street  and  another  stood  near 
Broadway  at  Warren  Street. 

In  the  southeast  corridor  is  a  bust  and  memorial  tablet  in 
honor  of  Postmaster  Pearson  for  his  services  in  reforming  the 
postal  system. 

54 


Park 


MANHATTAN 


5  Route 


4  Fountain,  erected  about  1873  j^^st  north  of  the  site  of  the 
original  fountain  of  1842  which  celebrated  the  opening  of  the 
Croton  Aqueduct. 

Go  north  through  the  Park  to 

5.  The  County  Court  House,  on  the  site  of  the  second  Almshouse, 

Scudder's  Museum,  American  Institute^  etc. 

Chambers  Street  marks  the  line  of  the  fortifications  and  British  barracks  during 
the  Revolution  ;  a  negro  burying  ground  occupied  the  site  of  the  Stewart  and  Dunn 
Buildings. 

6.  Brown  Stone  Building,  now  the  City  Court,  built  1852.  The 
Rotunda  (1818-1870)  lay  east  of  this  and  was  used  for  the  Post  Office 
(1835-45)  and  later  as  an  art  gallery. 

7.  The  new  Hall  of  Records  at  Centre  and  Chambers  Streets. 
See  the  statues  of  Duane,  Colden,  Hone,  Heathcote,  Stuyvesant,  De 
Vries  and  Clinton  by  Philip  Martiny;  allegorical  statues  by  Marti ny 
and  Bush-Brow^n;  groups  representing  the  recording  of  the  purchase 
of  Manhattan  in  1626  and  the  consolidation  of  Greater  New  York, 
1898,  by  Albert  Weinert.  The  interior  of  the  building  is  well  worth  a 
visit.  The  Register  w^ill  allow  visitors  to  inspect  the  old  city  records 
and  maps  dating  back  to  Dutch  days.*  2 

8.  Site  of  the  first  Free  School  building  of  New  York  City  in  Ot- 
tendorfer  Square.  It  was  erected  in  1809  on  what  was  then  called 
Tryon  Row,  corner  of  Chatham  Street,  near  the  new  terminal  of  the 
Brooklyn  Bridge. 

Go  south  along  the  edge  of  the  Park  to  the 

9.  Tablet,  erected  in  1907  by  the  Mary  Washington  Colonial 
Chapter  of  the  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution,  on  a  granite 
monument  in  the  Park,  nearly  opposite  the  Brooklyn  Bridge  terminal, 
marking  the  site  of  the  old  Register's  Office  which  was  built  in  1758 
as  a  debtors'  prison.  It  became  the  Provost  or  British  military  prison 
during  the  Revolution  and  was  the  scene  of  great  brutality  to  prison- 
ers on  the  part  of  Provost-Marshall  Cunningham.  On  the  second 
floor  (called  derisively  "Congress  Hall")  w^ere  confined  prisoners  of 
note,  among  them  Ethan  Allen.  Beneath  the  building  were  four 
gloomy  dungeons.  The  building  was  torn  down  in  1903  to  make  way 
for  the  Subway.  During  its  demolition  coins,  buttons  and  human 
bones  were  found  in  the  excavation. 

Go  down  Park  Row 
on  the  line  of  the  early  road  to  Stuyvesant's  Bowery   (Excursion  III., 
Section  2),  and  later  forming  a  portion  of  the  Post  Road. 

55 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Park  Row  MANHATTAN  5  Route 

10.  The  Sun  Building,  originally  the  first  permanent  building  of 
Tammany  Hall  (erected  1811),  which  had  been  organized  at  Borden's 
Tavern  in  lower  Broadway  in  1789  and  moved  to  "  Martling's  "  (cor- 
ner of  Spruce  and  Nassau  Streets)  in  1798.  In  Tammany  Hall  the 
political  term     Loco  foco "  originated  in  1834. 

Frankfort  Street,  "  Newspaper  Alley,'*  was  named  for  the  birth- 
place of  Jacob  Leisler  who  was  executed  for  treason  in  1691  on 
his  own  farm  near  by.*  3 

A  fine  view  of  all  lower  Manhattan  and  the  Bay  may  be  obtained 
from  the  top  of  the  tower  in  the  World  Building. 

11.  Statue  of  Benjamin  Franklin,  designed  by  Plassman,  and 
presented  in  1867  by  Captain  Albert  de  Groot  to  the  printers  and 
press  of  New  York. 

12.  Statue  of  Horace  Greeley,  founder  of  the  "  New  York  Tri- 
bune "  (designed  by  Ward  and  presented  to  the  city  in  1890)  near 

:  the  Tribune  Building. 

13.  Statues  of  Franklin  and  Gutenberg  on  the  front  of  the 
"  Staats  Zeitung "  Building,  Spruce  and  William  Streets. 

14.  The  Vineyard  Lot  occupied  the  block  between  Park  Row,  Nassau  and 
Beekman  Streets,  and  the  block  below  was  called  the  Governor's  Garden  be- 
cause purchased  by   Governor   Dongan   in  1685. 

The  old  Times  and  Potter  Buildings  are  on  the  site  of  the  Brick  Presby- 
terian Church,  built  in  1768;  used  during  the  Revolution  as  a  British  prison 
and  moved  about  1858  to-  Thirty-seventh  Street  and  Fifth  Avenue.  (Excursion 
V,   Section  4:2). 

On  the  block  directly  south  is  the  site  of  the  first  Clinton  Hall  (1830),  an 
early  home  of  the  Mercantile  Library.     (Excursion  III,  Section  i). 

15.  Dolan's  Restaurant,  33  Park  Row,  contains  a  model  of  the 
buildings  on  this  block  as  they  stood  about  •  1800,  including  the 
present  structures  at  33,  34,  35  Park  Row,  the  corner  being  then 
known  as  Lovejoy's  Hotel.  It  also  Siiows  the  Perk  Theatre  just  be- 
low, the  site  in  part  that  of  the  Park  Row  Building,  21-23  Park 
Row.  The  theatre  was  erected  in  1798,  burned  in  1820,  rebuilt  in 
1821  and  again  burned  in  1848.  In  1842  a  ball  was  given  here  in 
honor  of  Charles  Dickens. 

16.  Theatre  Alley,  joining  Beekman  and  Ann  Streets,  was  the 
stage  passage  to  the  Park  Theatre.  The  restaurant  kitchen  here  was 
the  laundry  of  Lovejoy's  Hotel. 

17.  Site  of  Barnum's  Museum,  built  in  1842  and  burnt  down  in  1865,  was 
where  now  stands  the  St.  Paul  P.uilding  at  Broadway  and  Ann  Streets.  The 
Loew  Bridge  was  erected  across  Broadway  at  Fulton  Street  in^  1867  to  aid 
pedestrians,  but  was  taken  down  the  next  year  by  court  order.  Stewart's  Cafe 
at  161  Fulton  Street  contains  a  number  of  rare  prints  of  old  New  York.  *4. 

57 


Route  6 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


ROUTE  6. 

SECTION  II —ST.  PAUL'S  TO  WALL  STREET. 

i8.  St.  Paul's  Chapel,  corner  of  Vesey  Street,  the  oldest  church 
structure  in  Manhattan,  built  by  McBean,  1764-66  (the  steeple  not 
until  1794).  The  interior  was  modeled  after  that  of  St.  Martins-in- 
the-Fields,  London.    Note  on  the  pediment  the  statue  of  St.  Paul. 

See  within  the  church  the  pews  of  Washington  and  Governor 
George  Clinton,  the  original  sounding  board  over  the  pulpit  and 
several  tablets.  In  the  Trinity  Corporation  Building  at  the  foot  of 
the  yard  may  be  seen  a  number  of  interesting  historical  relics  and 
pictures. 


(D. 


0  (H) 

5t  Pauls  Cmapel 


Broadway 


Compiled  for  Tnt  City  History  Club 
OFNrwYoRK      Chorles  Kondel,  C  E 


Plate  XII. 

Index  to  Monuments,  St.  Paul's  Churchyard 


General  Richard  Montgomery. 
])r.  \Vm.  James  McNeven  (cenotaph). 
Cooke,  the  actor. 

Sieur  de  Roche  Fontaine  (aide  to  Rochambeau). 

Francis  Dring  (earliest  inscription,  1767).  i      •    j  r 

Thomas  Addis  Emmett  (see  west  face  of  cenotaph,  latitude  and  longitude  of 
New  York). 
Washington 's  pew. 
Governor  George  Clinton's  pew. 

Tames  Davis,  smith  to  Royal  Artillery,  1760  (a  brown  stone  near  gate). 
Sam  Purdy,  an  old  jockey  who   rode  "Eclipse,"  May  27,   1823,  winning  a 
purse  of  $20,000;  a  race  of  North  vs.  South  (stone  on  four  pillars). 
John  TTolt,  printer  to  the  State,  editor  of  New  York  Gazette,  Post  Boy;  etc., 
a  loyalist:  epitaph  1784,  bv  his  widow  (square  box  over  grave). 
Charles  Nordeck,  Baron  de  Rabenau,  captain  in  a  Hessian  Regiment,  1782. 
Xote. — A  complete  list  of  inscriptions  and  epitaphs  with  a  map  niay^  he  seen  m 
the  vestry  room. 

58 


King's  College 


MANHATTAN 


6  Route 


19.  Astor  House,  north  of  St.  Paul's,  one  of  the  oldest  New 
York  hotels,  built  1834.38  and  the  temporary  home  of  many  famous 
men.  It  is  opposite  the  site  of  the  old  Spring  Garden  and  on  that  of  the 
Drover's  Inn  or  Bull's  Head  Tavern  and  was  once  the  property  of 
J.  -J.  Astor,  J.  C.  Coster  and  David  Lydig.  It  is  still  in  the  Astor 
estate. 

The  first  substantial  sidewalks  of  New  York  were  laid  on  the 
west  side  of  Broadway  between  Vesey  and  Murray  Streets  about  1787. 

Go  west  on  Barclay  Street  to 

20.  St.  Peter's  Church,  southeast  corner  of  Church  Street,  the 
oldest  Roman  Catholic  Church  building  in  Manhattan,  established  in 
1786;  rebuilt  1838-9  and  recently  remodeled.  Note  the  Latin  inscrip- 
tion under  the  cornice  and  the  statue  of  St.  Peter.  *  5 

Go  up  Church  and  west  on  Murray  Street  to 

21.  Tablet  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Murray  Street  and  West 
Broadway,  marking  the  site  of  Kings  College  tract  which  extended 
west  of  Broadway,  between  Murray  and  Barclay  Street  and  sloped 
down  to  the  river  which  then  came  up  to  Greenwich  Street.  The 
college  grounds  proper  covered  much  less  territory  (Plate  IX).  This 
large  open  space  aided  in  stopping  the  progress  of  the  great  fire  of 
1776.  King's  College  was  chartered  in  1754,  sessions  beginning  July 
of  that  year  in  the  school-house  of  Trinity  Church,  Dr.  Samuel 
Johnson,  the  President,  being  at  first  the  sole  instructor.  The  cor- 
ner stone  of  the  building  was  laid  in  1756  and  the  college  was  first 
occupied  in  1760.  During  the  Revolution  the  building  was  dismantled 
and  used  by  both  armies  as  barracks  and  a  hospital.  In  1784  it  was 
reopened  as  Columbia  College,  DeWitt  Clinton,  nephew  of  the  Gov- 
ernor, entering  as  the  first  student. 

Dr.   Anthon's  Grammar   School,  ,  founded  in   1764   as  the  preparatory  depart- 
ment,   after   the    Revolution    occupied    the   Murray    Street   side    and    the  main 
entrance   was  from   Robinson   Street    (Park   Place)    which  was  cut  through  the 
grounds  in   1856,  the  year  before  the  College  moved  up  town.    (Excursion  V,  ^ 
Section  4:7). 

Greenwich  Street  was  the  shore  line  until  about  1760  and  a  road  ran  north 
from  it  to  Greenwich  \'illage,  passing  Vauxhall,  a  favorite  public  garden  of 
the  English  period,  lying  between  Warren  and  Chambers  Streets.  The  first 
elevated  railroad  in  the  world  was  built  on  this  street  in  1866-7,  running  from 
the   Battery  to  Thirtieth   Street.    The  experimental  power  was  a  cable. 

Go  south  on  West  Broadway  to  Vesey  Street. 

West  Broadway,  College  Place  or  Cluipel  Street  was  widened  and  cut 
through  to  \'cspy  Street  in  1892  and  lower  Church  Street  was  widened  and 
called  Nezv  Church  about  1875.  The  line  of  the  former  sidewalk  may  be 
determined  by  the  Elevated  R,  R.  pillars  on  the  west  side.^  The  horse  cars 
formerly  ran  under  the  houses  between  Barclay  and  Vesey  Streets. 


59 


Route  6  HISTORICAL    GUIDE    W.  of  Broadway 

22.  Washington  Market,  successor  to  the  Bear  Market,  corner 
of  Vesey  and  Washington  Streets.  West  Washington  Market,  formerly 
on  the  river  front,  is  now  part  of  Gansevoort  Market.  The  high 
lands  nearby  were  leveled  and  the  shore  line  filled  in  about  1787  to 
1790.    See  old  houses  on  Vesey  Street  opposite  the  market.  *6 

Go  south  on  Greenwich  to  Thames  Street. 

On  Cortlandt  Street  and  Broadway  was  a  Dutch  windmill  in  early  daySj 
hence  its  old  name  of  Windmill  Lane;  and  at  the  foot  of  Cortlandt  Street  was 
the  slip  of  Fulton's  first  steam  ferry   (1812)  to  Paulus  Hook. 

See  old  buildings  near  Albany  and  Carlisle  Streets.  *7 

Go  east  on  Thames  Street  and  north  on  Trinity  Place  to  Cedar 

Street,  passing 

old  house  at  17  Thames  Street  and 

23.  An  old  city  well  on  Trinity  Place,  corner  of  Thames  Street. 


Return  to  Thames  Street  and  go  east  to  Broadway,  passing 

25.  Tablet,  Thames  Street  side  of  113  Broadway,  site  of  the 
de  Lancey  House,  built  in  1700,  later  the  Province  Arms,  or  Burns' 
Coffee  House,  and  replaced  by  the  City  Hotel  in  1806.  This  is  said  to 
have  been  the  scene  of  the  signing  of  the  Non-Importation  Agree- 
ment, October  31,  1765,  but  there  is  authority  for  believing  that  this 
took  place  at  9  Broadway.     (Excursion  VII  :i). 

Thames  Street  was  the  carriage  way  to  the  de  Lancey  stables. 


69 


MANHATTAN 


7  Route 


ROUTE  7. 

SECTION   III.— WALL   STREET  TO   FRANKL^^T  SQUARE. 
Take  Subway  to  Wall  Street.    Go  cast  on  Cedar  Street,  passing 

26.  The  site  of  the  Scotch  Presbyterian  Church,  built  about  1760,  nearly 
opposite  the  Clearing  House,  between  Broadway  and  Nassau  Streets.  The 
latter  street  was  first  at  Teunis  de  Kay's  cartway  from  Wall  Street,  passing 
around  Federal  Hall;  it  was  opened  in  1696,  and  the  upper  end  was  called 
Kip  Street  for  Jacob  Kip.  Note  copies  of  the  City,  State  and  National  Seals - 
on  the  Clearing  House. 

27.  The  tablet  on  the  Mutual  Life  Building,  northeast  corner 
of  Nassau  and  Cedar  Streets,  marks  the  site  of  the  Middle  Dutch 
Church,  built  1727-32;  this  was  used  by  the  British  as  a  riding  acad- 
emy and  prison  and  served  as  a  post  office  from  1845  to  1875.  The 
old  bell,  made  in  Amsterdam  and  given  by  de  Peyster,  is  now  at  the 
Collegiate  Church,  at  Fifth  Avenue  and  Forty-eighth  Street.  (Ex- 
cursion V,  Section  IV  :5).  It  is  said  that  Franklin  tried  some  of  his 
kite  experiments  from  the  belfry  of  the  old  building.  Just  behind, 
at  34  Liberty  Street,  stoud  the  Livingston  Sugar  House,  another 
Revolutionary  prison. 

28.  Site  of  the  French  Church  du  St.  Esprit  (Excursion  VIT,  13  and  Ex- 
cursion y.  Section  11:39),  erected  1703-4  at  18-20-22  Pine  Street  and  also 
used  as  a  military  prison. 

Go  north  on  Nassau  and  west  on  Liberty  Street 

29.  The  Chamber  of  Commerce,  65  Liberty  Street  (admission 
only  through  a  member's  card),  contains  a  fine  collection  of  portraits 
of  old  New  York  merchants,  a  Stuart  portrait  of  Washington  and 
many  interesting  relics  and  curios.  Note  in  front  the  statues  of 
Alexander  Hamilton,  John  Jay  and  De  Witt  Clinton.  On  this  site 
once  stood  the  Friends'  Meeting  House. 

Go    up    Liberty   Place,    formerly   called    Little    Green    Street,  then 
descend  the  hill  to  Maiden  Lane  and  walk  east 
to  Pear!  Street.*  8> 
Aaron  Burr's  law  office  was  at  73  Nassau  Street. 

^Maiden  Lane,  Maagde  Paatje,  was  one  of  the  three  oldest  streets  north 
of  the  Wall,  being  the  route  between  Road  to  the  Ferry  and  Broadway.  The 
streets  between  it  and  Broadway  were  laid  out  about  1690.  A  brook  ran 
along  the  line  of  this  street  from  the  vicinity  of  Broadway,  as  may  still  be 
seen  by  the  hollow  marking  the  neighborhood  and  by  the  old  arches  in  base- 
ments near  Nassau  Street,  built  over  a  drain  to  carry  off  the  water.  Some 
say  the  banks  of  this  brook  were  a  favorite  bleaching  ground  of  the  Dutch 
maidens,  others  that  Maiden  Lane  was  an  old  lover's  path.  At  the  edge  of 
the  East  River,  near  Pearl  Street,  in  Dutch  days  was  the  smithy  of  Cornelius 
Cloppers,  giving  the  name  Smit's  Vly  (valley)  to  this  locality.  Note  the  modern 
house  with  a  crowstep  roof  at  57  Maiden  Lane,  on  the  site  of  Thomas  Jef- 
ferson's New  York  home. 

61 


Route  7 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


East  of 


30.  The  Fly  Market  once  occupied  the  block  east  of  Pearl  Street,  and  after 
the  filling-in  process  was  complete  two  other  markets  occupied  the  additional 
blocks  to  the  east.  All  were  torn  down  about  1821.  Its  successor  is  tho 
modern  Fulton  Market. 

Go  down  Pearl  Street 

Pearl  Street,  de  Perel  Straat,  the  Strand  or  the  Road  to  the  Ferry  (some- 
times called  Dock  and  Queen  Street}  marks  the  former  shore  line  on  the  East 
River  and  was  the  road  from  the  Fort  to  the  Brooklyn  Ferry,  near  Fulton 
Street. 

31.  Revolutionary  cannon,  northeast  corner  of  Pearl  and  Pine 
Streets.  Aaron  Burr  once  lived  at  10  Cedar  Street.  The  old  De 
Peyster  house,  at  168  Pearl  Street,  was  the  residence  of  Governor 
George  Clinton  in  1789. 

Return  to  Liberty  and  north  on  Gold  Street,  climbing  old  Rutgers 
Hill  and  passing  some  quaint  old  buildings.    Go  east  on 
Piatt  Street  to  see  an  old  house  at  208  Pearl  Street. 
Return  on  Piatt  Street  to  William  Street,  passing 

32.  The  Jack-Knife,  northv^est  corner  of  Piatt  and  Gold 
Streets,  an  old  house  once  used  as  a  tavern  which  was  so  changed 
in  shape  by  the  cutting  through  of  Piatt  Street  (by  Jacob  S.  Piatt  in 
1834)  as  to  merit  its  name.  It  is  best  seen  from  near  the  William 
Street  corner. 

Go  up  William  Street  to 

33.  Golden  Hill  Inn,  122-4  William  Street,  built  over  150  years 

ago  of  brick  from  Holland.    It  was  the  favorite  meeting  place  of  the 
Sons  of  Liberty  (see  38).    Washington  Irving  lived  at  the  site  of 
126  (or  131)  William  Street,  and  Lafayette  at  90  William  Street. 
Go  west  on  John  Street  to 

34.  John  Street  M.  E.  Church,  the  oldest  Methodist  Church 
in  New  York.  The  original  building  occupied  the  same  site  and  was 
erected  in  1768;  rebuilt  in  1817  and  1841.  The  church  was  organized 
in  a  sail  loft  at  120  William  Street  by  Barbara  Heck,  Philip  Embury 
and  Captain  Webb.  Within  may  be  seen  a  number  of  interesting 
relics,  including  a  clock  given  by  Charles  Wesley  and  tablets  to 
Captain  Webb,  S.  H.  Hadley  and  others.  The  tablet  outside  gives 
the  dates  of  the  several  structures.  *  10 

35.  The  site  01  the  John  Street  Theatre  (called  the  "  Royal  "  in  the 
Revolution  and  the  National  "  afterward)  was  at  15-21  John  Street. 
It  was  built  between  1750  and  1760  and  here  Major  Andre  performed 
original  plays  during  the  Revolution.  "  Hail  Columbia "  was  first 
played  here  in  the  presence  of  Washington  by  Fyles,  its  composer, 
and  in  this  theatre  Joseph  Jefferson  made  his  first  appearance.  See 
the  arcade  at  17  John  Street,  once  an  entrance  to  the  theatre 

62 


Broadway 


MANHATTAN 


7  Route 


Go  north  on  Nassau  to  Fulton  Street;  then  west  to 

36.  Tablet,  136  Fulton  Street,  erected  in  1883  by  veterans  of 
the  Seventh  Regiment  to  commemorate  the  Shakespeare  Tavern,  built 
before  the  Revolution,  a  favorite  headquarters  for  actors  and  the 
scene  of  the  organization  of  the  Seventh  Regiment,  August  25,  1824. 

Go  east  on  Fulton  Street. 

37.  Fulton   Street   Prayer   Meeting    (No.    113)    site   of  the 

North  Dutch  Church,  built  in  1769  and  used  as  a  British  prison.  The 
bell  once  hanging  in  the  North  Church  tower  now  stands  in  the 
churchyard  at  Twenty-ninth  Street  and  Fifth  Avenue.  (Excursion  V., 
Section  2:  41). 

The  first  Firemen's  Hall,  built  in  1788,  was  east  of  the  church,  at  the  cor- 
ner of  William  Street. 

Go  lip  Williarn  to  Ann  Street. 

38.  Tablet,  northeast  corner  of  Ann  and  William  Streets, 
marks  the  site  of  the  street  fight  of  Golden  Hill  (so  called  from  a 
wheat  field  here)  between  the  Sons  of  Liberty  and  British  soldiers, 
in  defence  of  the  Liberty  Pole,  January  17,  1770, — the  first  bloodshed 
of  the  Revolution  (see  3  and  33).  Note  the  old  building  opposite 
and  the  court  and  old  style  rear  buildings  at  59  Ann  Street.  *  11 

Return  to  Fulton  Street  and  go  east. 

39.  Ryder's  Alley,  connecting  Fulton  and  Gold  Streets,  is  a 
relic  of  the  old  days.  The  old  United  States  Hotel  (''Holt's  Folly"), 
corner  of  Fulton  and  Pearl  Streets,  on  the  site  of  the  United  States 
Arcade,  has  been  recently  demolished.  Several  old  houses  may  be  seen 
near  the  ferry,  at  the  foot  of  Fulton  Street. 

Go  north  on  Cliff  Street  to 

40.  The  St.  George  Building  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Beek- 

man  Street,  on  the  site  of  the  first  St.  George's  Church  (1748-1852), 
now  on  East  Sixteenth  Street.    The  original  desk,  pulpit  and  chancel 
rails  are  now  in  the  church  at  Manhasset,  L.  L 
The  old  shot  toweVy  erected  1858,  was  taken  down  in  1907. 

41.  Tablet  at  CliflF  and  Ferry  Streets,  (Schieren  Building) 
erected  Oct.  27,  1906,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Hide  and  Leather 
Association  of  New  York  to  commemorate  the  old  Swamp.  In  ex- 
cavating for  the  building  old  tan-vats  were  found  in  a  good  state  of 
preservation. 

63  - 


Route  7  HISTORICAL    GUIDE  East  of 

John  Haberding  (or  Harpendinck)  with  some  fellow  tanners 
bought  in  1695,  "  The  Shoemaker's  Pasture,"  a  district  covering 
several  blocks  between  ^Maiden  Lane  and  Ann  Street,  east  of  Broad- 
way. Here  they  carried  their  tanneries  from  the  old  tan  pits  near 
Beaver  Street ;  later  Haberding,  having  given  his  share  of  the  Pasture 
to  the  Middle  Church,  they  removed  to  the  "  Leather  Swamp  "  above 
Beekman  Street,  near  Gold  Street,  which  district  still  retains  the  name 
of  "  The  Swamp."  The  Vandercliff  Farm  lay  northeast  of  Shoe- 
maker's Pasture  and  gave  the  name  to  Cliff  Street. 

Go  cast  on  Ferry  Street  to  Peck  Slip. 

42.  Tablet  at  8-10  Peck  Slip,  erected  by  General  Society  of 
Mayflower  Descendants  in  1904  to  commemorate  the  warehouse  of 
Isaac  Allerton,  a  Mayflower  Pilgrim  who  was  Governor  Bradford's 
assistant  at  Plymouth. 

43.  Revolutionary  cannon  at  southwest  corner  of  Water  Street 
and  Peck  Slip. 

Go  north  on  Pearl  Street  to 

44.  Site  of  the  Walton  House,  324-326  Pearl  Street  (built  1754,  torn  down 
1881),  the  magnificence  of  which  is  said  to  have  led  to  the  enactment  of  the 
Stamp  Act. 

45.  Tablet,  on  Brooklyn  Bridge  pier  at  the  east  side  of  Frank- 
lin Square,  erected  in  1899  by  the  Mary  Washington  Colonial  Chap- 
ter, Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution,  to  mark  the  Franklin 
House,  home  of  Walter  Franklin,  a  merchant,  at  i  Cherry  Street, 
built  1770,  and  occupied  as  the  first  presidential  mansion  by  Wash- 
ington. Another  prominent  resident  was  Samuel  Osgood,  first  Post- 
master General,  who  had  married  Franklin's  widow.  The  house  was 
torn  down  in  1856. 

Franklin  Square  was  named  in  1817  by  the  Board  of  Aldermen  for 
Benjamin  Franklin. 

This  district  ?is  formerly  called  Cherry  Hill,  named  for  the  cherry  orchard 
of  Mayor  Thos.  Dclancey,  1666-71,  or  for  the  Cherry  Garden,  established^  about 
1664  by  Richard  Sackctt  as  a  rival  to  the  Dutch  garden  at  Chatham  Square. 
At  5  Cherry  Street  John  Hancock  once  lived,  and  here  Wm.  Tweed  carried  on 
the  trade  of  a  cigar-maker. 

At  7  Cherry  Street  stood  the  house  of  Samuel  Leggett,  president  of  the 
New  York  Gaslight  Company,  where  gas  was  first  used  in  the  city  in  1835. 
At  17  Cherry  Street  lived  Samuel  C.  Reid,  who  designed  tlie  present  American 
flag.  Gotham  Court  (19  Cherry)  and  Blindman's  Alley  (26  Cherry),  were  in 
this  neighborhood,  which  is  one  of  the  most  crowded  and  poorly  housed  districts 
in  the  city. 

64 


Broadway 


MANHATTAN 


7  Route 


Go  up  Cherry  to  Rooscz'cit  Street. 

Thron.Q:h  Roosevelt  Street  once  ran  Old  JVreck  Brook,  thought  by 
Innes  to  have  been  named  for  the  wreck  of  Adrian  Block's  ship,  the 
Tiger.  (Excursion  VII  :i6.)  This  brook  led  from  the  Collect  Pond 
(vicinity  of  the  Tombs)  to  the  East  River.  (See  page  95.)  The 
bridge  crossing  this  brook  at  Park  Row  was  one  of  three  "  Kissing 
Bridges."    See  old  houses  at  98-96  and  88-86  Roosevelt  Street. 

Pass  under  the  Elevated  Railroad  to  New  Chambers  Street  and  south 
on  Rose  Street. 

46.  Tablet  and  barred  window  on  the  Rhinelander  Building, 
the  latter  once  in  the  old  Cuyler,  later  Rhinelander  Sugar  House 
which  was  built  in  1763  and  torn  down  1892.  Some  of  the  original 
blocks  of  stone  surround  the  doorway.  It  is  claimed  that  the  old 
building  was  used  as  a  Revolutionary  prison  (disproved  by  J.  A. 
Stez'eiis). 

Go  west  on  Duane  Street  to  Park  Row  and  back  to  City  Hall. 

Chatham  Garden  once  fronted  on  Park  Row  (old  Chatham  Street)  and  ex- 
tended north  from  New  Chambers  Street.  The  high  ground  in  the  vicinity 
was  once  called  Catimut's  Windmill  or  Fresh  Water  Hill.  There  was  2  wind- 
mill here  in  1662,  north  of  Duane  Street,  *I2. 


ADDENDA— 1912 

*i  (p-  53)-  Since  the  restoration  of  this  room  through  the  gift  of 
Mrs.  Russell  Sage  the  name  was  changed  to  the  "Trumbull  Room."  as 
nearly  all  the  portraits  not  executed  by  Trumbull  were  removed  and 
others  of  his  work  hung  here.  The  Erie  punch  bowl  was  recently  re- 
moved for  greater  security  to  the  Metropolitan  Museum. 

*2  (p.  55).  The  new  Municipal  Building  (erected  1911-13)  will  ^ 
have  shields  above  the  great  pillars  representing  the  arms  of  the  present 
city,  and  state,  New  Amsterdam,  New  Nethcrland  and  the  province  of 
New  York  1664  (corresponding  with  the  arms  of  the  Duke  of  York). 
Allegorical  figures  represent  city  departments :  "Executive  Power," 
^'Guidance,"  "Civic  Duty,"  "Progress."  "Civic  Pride."  "Prrdence," 
etc.,  and  the  large  copper  figure  surmounting  the  tower  stands  for 
"Civic  Fame." 

*3  (P-  5/)-    See  the  oaks  in  the  Park  opposite,  brought  from  Frank- 


Route  7 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


East  of 


fort,  Germany,  and  planted  here  with  public  ceremonies,  April  23,  191 1, 
by  German  Americans.  Chris fs  Church  (known  as  the  ''Swamp 
Church")  was  dedicated  in  1767  by  the  German  Lutherans  at  the  east 
corner  of  Frankfort  and  William  streets.  During  the  Revolution 
chaplains  of  the  German  regiments  officiated.  In  1830  the  building  was 
sold,  most  of  the  congregation  going  to  the  new  English  Lutheran 
Church  in  Walker  Street. 

*4  (p-  57)-  See  also  paintings,  old  prints,  etc.,  in  Stewart's  taverns 
at  8  Warren  and  4-6  John  Street,  both  near  Broadway. 

"Ye  Olde  Tavern,"  161  Duane  Street  near  West  Broadway,  was 
built  over  one  hundred  years  ago,  and  the  upper  floor  was  used  prior  to 
1849  by  the  Public  School  Society  for  a  primary  school  for  colored 
children :  it  has  been  fitted  up  to  resemble  an  XVIII  century  tavern. 
Another  old  building  remains  at  the  S.  W.  corner  of  Duane  and 
Greenwich  streets. 

*5  (p-  59)-  Tablet  on  pillar  in  front  of  St.  Peter's  Church,  erected 
191 1,  by  the  Knights  of  Columbus  in  memory  of  Governor  Thomas 
Dongan. 

*6  (p.  60).  See  the  original  Memorial  Stone,  N.  W.  corner  of 
Washington  Market,  presented  by  the  N.  Y.  Historical  Soci<?ty  at  the 
celebration  of  the  Centennial  of  the  Market  in  October,  1912.  On  it  are 
inscribed  the  names  of  the  first  superintendents  of  the  market. 

*7  (p.  60).  Planters'  Hotel,  N.  W.  corner  Albany  and  Greenwich 
streets,  now  used  as  a  drygoods  store ;  the  name  remains  almost  obliter- 
ated, on  the  south  side ;  also  marks  of  the  former  entrance.  It  w^as 
patronized  by  Henry  Clay  and  other  celebrities,  and  Edgar  Allan  Poe  is 
said  to  have  lodged  here  for  several  weeks  after  his  arrival  in  New  York. 

*8  (p.  61).   Inscription  at  6  Liberty  Place  as  follows: 

History  of  Liberty  Place 
Up  to  the  English  conquest  (1664)  a  country  lane  beyond  New 
Amsterdam  leading  to  a  brookside  path,  called  ''Maagde  Paatje" — 
After  1664  named  Green  Alley  and  later  called  Green  Street.  From 
1704  to  1740  the  first  Quaker  Church  was  on  this  alley.  Up  to  1844  the 
name  was  Greerc.  Street;  in  1844  name  was  changed  to  Little  Green 
Street,  in  1849,  again  changed  to  Liberty  Place. 

Erected  by  Liberty  Place  Historical  Society. 
*9  (p.  61).      Tablet  erected  191 1  by  the  Maiden  Lane  Historical 
Society  and  donated  by  Edward  Holbrook. 

Inscription:  Called  Maagde  Paatje  in  the  days  of  New  Amsterdam, 
being  a  rural  path  beside  a  stream  still  marked  by  the  curved  line  on 

66 


Broadway 


MANHATTAN 


7  Route 


the  present  street.  Known  during  the  early  English  period  as  both 
Green  Lane  and  Maiden  Lane.  Laid  out  as  a  street  in  1691.  Began  to 
assume  the  character  of  a  jewelry  district  about  1840.  See  p.  390. 

*io  (p.  62).  Tablets  within  the  church,  erected  1912  to  Bishop  E.  G. 
Andrews,  Dr.  W.  H.  DePuy  and  B.  ]\L  Tilton.  There  are  also  tablets 
to  the  memory  of  Bishop  Asbury,  Barbara  Heck,  Philip  Embury  and 
others  (illustrated  "Historical  Sketch,  Old  John  Street,"  may  be  ob- 
tained). 

*ii  (p.  63).  The  tablet  for  Golden  Hill  has  been  removed  and  de- 
stroyed, as  no  documentary  proof  can  be  found  locating  the  exact  scene 
of  the  fight. 

*I2  (p.  65).  See  other  old  houses  at  139-141,  157-163,  185-187  and 
207  Park  Row.    (See  also  p.  102  *io.) 


67  ^ 


NOTES 


EXCURSION  NO.  IL— GREENWICH  VILLAGE  AND  LISPEN- 
ARB'S  MEADOWS. 

By  Frank  Bergen  Kelley. 

(Corrected  with  the  aid  of  Mr.  Thos.  J.  Burton,  Life  Member, 
New  York  Historical  Society.) 


Copyright,  1902,  by  thk  City  History  Club  of  New  York 
Revised  1906,  1909  and  1912. 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Greenwich 


MANHATTAN 


8  Route 


GREENWICH  VILLAGE  AND  LISPENARD'S  MEADOWS. 
Bibliography. 

Works  by  Ulmann,  Hemstreet  and  Wilson  mentioned  in  Excursion 
VII. 

"Historic  New  York,"  (papers  on  "Annetje  Jans'  Farm,"  "Old 
Wells,"  and  "  Old  Greenwich.") 

"  In  Old  New  York,"  (chapters  on  "  Greenwich  Village,"  and 
"  Lispenard's  Meadows  ")  by  Janvier. 

"  When  Old  New  York  w^as  Young,"  (chapters  on  "  Greenwich 
Village,"  "The  Inland  Road  to  Greenwich,"  and  "The  Mouse  Trap,") 
by  Hemstreet. 

''Greenwich  Village  and  Landmarks  in  its  Vicinity,"  a  paper  read 
before  the  N.  Y.  Historical  Society  by  Thomas  J.  Burton. 
Note. — The  *  refers  to  Addenda,  1912,  p.  83. 

ROUTE  8. 

SECTION  I.— GREENWICH  VILLAGE. 
J^Vest  Fourteenth  Street  to  Spring  Street. 
(Figures  refer  to  Plates  XIV,  XVI;  see  also  Plate  XIII). 

Greenwich  Village  is  the  site  of  the  oldest  settlement  of  white  men  on  Man« 
hattan  after  that  forified  around  Fort  Amsterdam.  Its  boundaries  are,  roughly, 
the  North  River,  West  Fourteenth  Street  and  the  line  of  the  old  Minetta 
Brook,  the  east  branch  of  which  rose  in  Madison  Square,  crossed  Washington 
Square,  ran  through  the  line  of  Minetta  and  Downing  Streets,  and  flowed  into 
the  North  River  just  north  of  Charlton  Street  (see  Plate  XXI). 

The  original  Greenwich  was  of  much  smaller  compass,  consisting  of  a  few 
houses  located  between  the  old  Indian  village  of  Sappokanican  (east  of  the 
present  Gansevoort  Market)  and  the  present  Christopher  Street,  and  was  built 
up  chiefly  around  the   foot  of  the  latter  street. 

Sappokanican  was  called  the  Bossen  Bouwerie  (Farm  in  the  Woods)  in 
1633,  when  Governor  Van  Twiller  established  a  tobacco  plantation  often  called 
by  its  old  Indian  name.  It  is  mentioned  in  the  Journal  of  Bankers  and 
Sluyter  in  1679.  Because  of  its  healthfulness  and  fertility,  it  was  a  popular 
place  of  settlement.  It  received  the  name  of  Greenwich  in  the  early  part  of 
the  eighteenth  century.  Among  the  early  residents  of  prominence  were  Cap- 
tain, later  Admiral,  Sir  Peter  Warren,  Oliver  De  Lancev  (Warren's  brother- 
in-law),  Commissary  Mortier,  William  Bayard,  James  Jauncey  and  George 
Clinton. 

During  the  early  part  of  the  nineteenth  century  this  section  of  the  city 
became  a  refuge  from  the  plagues  of  yellow  fever  and  cholera,  and  was  rapidly 
built  up. 

The  dovetailing  of  the  new  city  plan  of  1807-11  on  the  old  line  of  streets 
in  Greenwich  Village  gave  rise  to  some  curious  complications,  such  as  the 
crossing  of  Tenth  and  Eleventh  Streets  bv  Fourth  Street,  etc.  This  new  plan, 
together  with  changes  about  Washington  Square,  brought  Greenwich  into  closer 
union  with  the  rest  of  the  city,  although  its  individuality  is  still  very  marked. 
It  is  often  called  the  Old  Ninth  or  the  American   Ward.  •  ,  c 

The  original  shore  line  of  this  section  was  just  west  of  Greenwich  Street, 
which  was  a  shore  road  to  Greenwich  Village,  possibly  succeeding  an  old 
Indian  path. 

71  ^ 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


7a 


Greenwich  MANHATTAN  8  Route 

Start  at  ITcst  Fourteenth  Street  and  Tenth  Avenue;  zi'alk  south. 

1.  Gansevoort  Market,  just  west  of  the  site  of  Sappokanican 
("carrying  place"),  the  Indian  village  where  Hudson  is  supposed 
to  have  stopped  to  trade  in  1609. 

The  market  occupies  filled-in  ground,  the  original  shore-line  making  a  shari 
turn  to  the  east  at  Bank  Street,  forming  a  bay  into  which  projected  a  point 
of  land  on  which  Fort  Gansevoort  was  located.  The  fort,  which  was  named  in 
honor  of  General  Peter  Gansevoort,  an  officer  in  Washington's  army,  was  built 
in  this  vicinity  to  protect  the  river  front  during  the  War  of  1812  and  was 
torn  down  in  1851. 

See  the  Sign  of  the  Goose  facing  Gansevoort  C'  goose  ")  Mar- 
ket at  819  Washington  Street. 

West  Washington  Market  was  moved  here  from  Vesey  Street. 

2.  The  old  Oyster  Market  lies  just  west  along  the  river  front, 
which  is  usually  lined  at  this  point  with  antiquated  river  craft.*  i 

Go  up  Horatio  Street  to  Jackson  Square. 

Pass  old  houses  at  35,  19-13  and  7  Horatio  Street  and  345  West 
Fourth  Street, 

3.  126  Greenwich  Avenue,  opposite  Jackson  Square;  see  C.  H. 
Britting's  large  and  unique  collection  of  theatre  posters,  pro- 
grams, etc.,  dating  back  to  1805. 

Go  down  Eighth  Avenue  to  Abingdon  Square. 

82  Jane  Street  is  the  site  of  Hfilliam  Bayard's  house  in  which  Alexander 
Hamilton  died. 

Abingdon  Square  was  named  for  the  Countess  of  Abingdon,  Admiral  War- 
ren's daughter. 

5.  The  Warren  Estate  embraced  much  of  the  land  in  this  vicinity.  The  site 
of  the  Warren  House  (home  of  Admiral  Sir  Peter  Warren,  who  aided  in  the 
capture  of  Louisbourg  in  1745)  was  on  the  block  bounded  by  West  Fourth, 
Charles,  Bleecker  and  Perry  Streets,  This  property  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Van 
Nest  in  1819  for  $15,000.  In  1865  a  row  of  brownstone  houses  was  built  here  and 
remains  on  what  is  called  Vannest  Place  (Charles  from  Bleecker  to  West 
Fourth  Street). 

Christopher  Street  was  called  Skinner  Road  for  one  of  Sir  Peter  Warren's 
sons-in-law. 

100  yards  east  of  Eighth  Avenue  was  the  original  Fitcroy  Road,  named  for 
another  son-in-law.  Lord  Fitzroy,  created  Baron  Southampton  in  1780.  Ganse- 
voort Street  was  once  called  Southampton  or  Great  Kill  Road.  (Plate  XXI  and 
Route  16.) 

4.  The  Barracks,  a  building  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Bank 
and  Bleecker  Streets,  the  upper  part  being  the  original  prison  for 
sailors  taken  from  the  captured  British  man-of-war  Peacock  during 
the  War  of  1812  (for  brief  account  see  framed  clippings  in  the 
building) . 

Go  west  on  Bank  to  JVest  Street. 

Bank  Street  was  so  called  from  the  banks  which  removed  from  downtown 
and  located  here  during  the  yellow  fever  epidemic  of  1709,  Governor  George 
Clinton  lived  at  the  site  of  I'lo  Bank  Street,  the  grounds  then  sloping  to  the 
river.  (Banks  were  on  block  bounded  by  Bank  and  West  iiih  S15.,  Wav^rly  Plage 
and  Greenwich  Ave.) 

73 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


nnr— -nQ^-^ 


Plate  XIV.    Routes  8,  lo. 


C.  K. 


74 


Greenwich 


MA^^HATTAN 


8  Route 


6.  Tablet  on  west  side  of  West  Street  in  front  of  Piers  49-50, 
marking  the  widening  and  general  improvement  of  West  Street 
in  1897. 

Go  down  West  to  Tenth  Street. 

7.  Site  of  . the  iirst  New  York  State  Prison  (near  foot  of  West  Tenth  Street), 
built  in  1796;  removed  to  Sing  Sing  1829;  the  foundation  stones  are  incor- 
porated in  the  walls  of  the  brewery  now  occupying  the  site  (just  inside  and 
east  of  the  Tenth  Street  driveway).  In  181 1  Greenwich  Hotel  was  on  Green- 
wich Street  near  the  prison;  stages  went  from  this  point  to  the  City  Hall  on 
Wall  Street  five  times  a  day. 

Log  rafts  were  formerly  anchored  off  shore,  and  a  market  was  lo- 
cated here  in  1804.  On  November  4,  1825,  the  procession  of  vessels 
brought  through  the  Erie  Canal  stopped  at  the  dock  near  the  Prison 
where  it  was  met  by  the  city  officials  and  proceeded  to  the  navy  yard, 
where  national  officials  were  taken  on  board  and  the  fleet  continued 
to  the  Lower  Bay,  where  was  performed  the  ceremony  of  wedding  the 
lakes  to  the  sea.  *  2 

8.  Old  houses  on  Weehawken  Street,  possibly  built  before  1767 
and  plotted  on  the  Ratzer  Map  of  1766-7  (Plate  XVIL)  One  of 
the  houses  was  once  the  station  of  the  N.  Y.  C.  and  H.  R.  R.  R. 

Go  east  on  West  Tenth  Street,  passing 
Old  houses  at  248  (rear  alley)  and  246  West  Tenth  Street. 
Go  hack  to  Hudson  Street  and  south  to  Grove  Street. 

9.  St.  Luke's  (a.  chapel  of  Trinity)  was  built  here  1821-4  (see 
tablet);  the  building  next  door  to  the  old  chapel  was  a  Home 
for  Aged  Couples,  now  at  West  One  Hundred  and  Twelfth 
Street. 

10.  The  old  Grove  Street  School  (P.  S.  No.  3)  is  the  third 
oldest  public  school  in  New  York.  It  was  destroyed  by  fire  in 
1905.  The  new  building  is  marked  by  a  tablet  (the  gift  of  C.  R. 
Lamb,  one  of  the  old  boys  ")  to  commemorate  Lafayette's  visit 
in  1824  to  the  original  school,  which  had  been  "  selected  as  the  best 
example  of  the  public  school  system  as  established  by  the  Free 
School  Society  of  the  City  of  New  York."  Grove  street  (called 
successively  Cozine,  Columbia  and  Burrows  Street)  was  widened  and 
partly  straightened  in  1836. 

Go  east  on  Barrow  and  through  Commerce  Streets  to  Bedford  Street. 

11.  The  Broderick  House  is  at  the  southwest  corner  of  Bar- 
row^ and  Commerce  Streets.  *  3 

Washington  Irving's  sister  lived  at  15  Commerce  Street. 

Go  down  Bedford  to  Morton  Street. 
75  ^ 


Route  8 


HISTORICAU  GUIDE 


Greenwich 


12.  The  old  Bedford  Street  Methodist  Church,  corner  of  Mor- 
ton Street,  was  founded  in  a  carpenter's  shop  near  by  in  1805;  the 
original  church  was  built  in  1810  and  rebuilt  on  the  same  site  in 
1840.  Bishop  Asbury  and  Freeborn  Garretson  preached  in  this 
church.  Note  several  old  buildings  near  by  on  Bedford  and 
Morton  Streets. 

13.  95  Morton  Street  is  the  former  country  house  of  General 
Morton,  opposite  which  was  "  Mr,  Williamson's  garden "  mentioned 
in  Washington's  diary.    Demolished,  191 1. 

Go  back  to  Hudson  Street  and  south  to 

14.  Hudson  Park,  occupying  the  site  of  St.  John's  Cemetery, 
which  was  converted  into  a  park  (formerly  called  St.  John's)  in 
1898.  See  the  Firemen's  Monument  and  tablets;  the  pool  and 
fountain  are  in  the  French-Italian  style  of  the  17th  Century. 

Cross  the  Park  to  Carmine  Street. 

It  is  a  neighborhood  tradition  that  during  the  Draft  Riots  negroes  were 
hanged  from  the  lamp-post  on  Clarkson,  near  Carmine  Street. 

15.  See  old-time  houses  at  54,  59  and  61  Downing  Street. 

Return  to  Varick  Street  and  go  south. 

Many  old-fashioned  houses  remain  on  Varick  Street,  between 
Charlton  and  Carmine  Streets,  on  Charlton,  Van  Dam  and  Spring 
Streets,  and  on  Hudson  at  Watts  Street.  4 

The  Zandtherg  or  Richmond  Hill  originally  occupied  this  region  (see  Plate 
XIII).     The  Indians  called  this  Ishpatanau  or  Bad  Hill. 

16.  The  site  of  Richmond  Hill  Mansion  is  on  the  block  bounded  by  King, 
Varick,  Charlton  and  McDougal  Streets,  but  the  house  was  finally  removed  to 
34-38  Charlton  Street.  It  was  built  by  Abraham  Mortier,  Commissary^  of  the 
British  Army  in  1760  and  occupied  by  Lord  Amherst,  Sir  William  Carleton, 
General  Washington  (1776),  Vice-President  Adams  (1789)  and  Aaron  Burr; 
later  it  was  used  as  a  theatre  and  then  became  a  roadhouse. 

17.  The  Spring  Street  Church,  at  Spring  and  Varick  Streets, 
was  erected  in  1835,  its  predecessor  of  181 1  having  been  built  of 
material  from  the  old  First  Church  in  Wall  Street  (Excursion 
VII  :2o).  Sprmg  Street  (formerly  Brannon  Street)  was  so  called 
from  the  natural  well  which  was  the  scene  of  an  early  tragedy. 

18.  In  1755  Brannon  Garden  occupied  the  corner  at  Spring  and  Hudson 
Streets,  the  neighborhood  being  known  as  Lower  Greenwich. 

Co  east  on  Spring  Street  and  return  by  Sixth  Avenue  Elevated  R.  R. 
from  Grand  Street^  or  continue  on  Excursion,  following  Route  9. 

76 


Lispenards*s 


MAP.iATTAN 


Meadows 


(Redrawn)  C.  K. 

Plate  XV.    Jans   or  Bogardus  Farm  ;  Later  the  Church  Farm 
From     In  Old  New  York.'*      By  permission.     Copyright,  J894,  by 
Harper  &  Bros. 

ROUTE  9. 

SECTION  II.    LISPENARD'S  MEADOWS. 
Broadway  ayid  Canal  Street  to  the  North  River. 
(Figures  refer  to  Plate  XVI;  see  also  XV). 
The  Ayinetje  Jans    Farm,  granted  in  1635  to  Roelof  Janssen,  consisted  of  62 
acres  lying  between  the  present  Warren  and  Canal   Streets,  west  of  Broadway. 
Roelof's   widow,    Annetje,    married    Dominic    Bogardus,    whence   the   later  name 
— the    Bogardus    Farm   or   the   Dominie's    Bouwerie.     It   was   sold   to  Governor 
Lovelace   in    1670,   confiscated  by   the   Duke  of   York   in    1674,    and  called  suc- 
cessively the  Duke's   Farm,   the   King's   Farm  and   the   Queen's   Farm,   until,  in 
^705.    Queen   Anne   granted    it   in   perpetuity   to   Trinity    Church,    when    it  was 
called  the  Church  Farm.     Most  of  it  is  still  Trinity  nropertv  except  the  portions 
ceded  by  the  corporation  to  the  city  for  streets  and   St.   John's   Park.  Trinity 
received  other  grants  north  to  Christopher  Street,  including  the  Old  Jans  Farm 
of  Jans  Celes,  north  of  Canal  Street.     Inst  beyond  was  the  Zandtbcrg  (or  sand 
hills)  known  in  English  days  as  Richmoul  Hill.     (16  above.) 


77 


Route  9  HISTORICAi:    GUIDE  Lispenard's 

The  Kalch  Hoek  was  a  promontory  projecting  into  a  swampy  region  just 
east  and  northeast  of  the  Farm,  which  was  finally  drained  in  1730  by  Anthony 
Rutgers.  His  daughter  married  Leonard  Lispenard,  whence  the  names  Lis- 
penard's    (Lepner's)    Meadows,    Lispenard    and    Leonard  Streets. 

The  Rutgers  Mansion  was  at  Thomas  Street  and  Broadway,  and  about  the 
\niddle  of  the  i8th  Century  became  the  center  of  Ranelagh  Garden.  The  New 
York  Hospital,  completed   1775,  occupied  about  the  same  site. 

A  canal,  constructed  through  these  meadows,  on  the  line  of  Canal  Street, 
after  the  City  Plan  of  1807  was  adopted,  drained  the  Collect  Pond,  which  was 
at  Centre  Street  (see  Route  12).  A  sewer  now  carries  the  drainage  of  the 
original  springs  in  the  middle  of  the  island.  A  stone  bridge  crossed  the  canal 
at  Broadway. 

The  small  park  at  West  and  Canal  Streets  was  once  called  Suicide  Slip. 
Go  east  on  Canal  Street  to  West  Broadway  and  north  to 

19.  St.  Alphonsus'  Church,  near  Grand  Street,  312  West  Broad- 
way (formerly  Laurens  Street),  on  the  site  of  the  Lafayette  Amphi- 
theatre, built  in  1826  and  named  in  honor  of  Lafayette  after  his  sec- 
ond visit  to  America.  In  the  Amphitheatre  was  held  the  celebration 
ball  of  the  Erie  Canal  opening. 

Continue  zvest  on  Canal  to  Laight  Street,  thence  west  on  Laight  to 

Varick  Street. 

See  old  houses  on  the  triangular  block  bounded  by  Canal, 
Laight  and  Varick  Streets. 

20.  St.  John's  Chapel,  46  Varick  Street,  built  in  1803-7,  called 
St.  John's  in  the  Fields  was  once  the  center  of  a  fashionable  neigh- 
borhood. St.  John's  is  the  third  oldest  church  edifice  yet  standing  on 
Manhattan,  being  antedated  by  St.  Paul's  Chapel  (1764-6)  and  St. 
Mark's  Church  (1795-9).  The  key  of  the  chapel  may  be  obtained  from 
the  sexton  at  the  house  on  the  south.  The  galleries,  columns  and 
pulpit  are  original.  The  bell,  clock  and  iron  fence  were  brought 
from  London.  On  Saturday  morning  may  be  seen  the  Leake  Dole  of 
Bread,  established  in  1800. 

It  faces  the  site  of  St.  John's  Park,  laid  out  as  a  private  park  in  1823,  but 
sold  to  the'N.  Y.  and  Hudson  River  R.  R.  Co.,  for  a  freight  station  in  1865. 
Around  the  Park  lived  a  number  of  well-known  citizens,  including  Alexander 
Hamilton  and   General  Schuyler. 

See  quaint  old  St.  John's  Lane  and  York  Street  behind  the 
church. 

Go  down  Varick  and  west  on  Beach  Street. 

21.  The  small  triangular  Park  at  Beach  Street  and  West 
Broadway  is  a  reminder  of  the  Annetje  Jans  Farm. 

22.  Home  of  John  Ericsson,  36  Beach  Street.  On  the  roof 
may  be  seen  a  small  house  in  which  he  carried  out  experiments. 

Go  up  Hudson  Street,  passing 
several  old  houses  with  high  stoops,  iron  railings  and  newel  nosts. 

78 


Meadows  MANHATTAN  g  Route 

23.  Commemorative  pediment  in  the  Hudson  Street  front  of 
the  N.  Y.  C.  &  H.  R.  R.  R.  freight  station,  to  honor  the  railway 
achievements  of  Vanderbilt. 

Go  west  on  Hubert  to  West  Street. 

24.  The  North  Fort,  erected  during  the  War  of  1812,  was  located  at  the  foot 
of  Hubert  Street. 

The  site  of  Washington's  landing  in  1775  was  on  West  Street,  south  of 
Laight   Street,   formerly  marked  by   a  bronze  tablet. 


Plate  XVI.   Routes  8,  9.  C  K. 


79 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Washington' 


ROUTE  10. 

SECTION  III— WASHINGTON  SQUARE  AND  VICINITY. 
(Figures  refer  to  Plate  XIV). 

Take  Fifth  Avenue  bus  to  Washington  Square;  or  Eighth  Street  car 
west  from  Astor  Place  Subway  Station  to  Fifth  Avenue 
and  walk  south  to 

25.  Washington  Square  (9  acres);  the  Potter's  Field,  1789- 
1823;  made  a  park  in  1827  and  improved  1870-1.  Art  Street  (Astor 
Place)  and  Monument  Lane  (named  for  an  obelisk  to  the  memory 
of  General  Wolfe,  hero  of  Quebec,  1759,  erected  at  a  point  near 
Fifteenth  Street  and  Eighth  Avenue),  now  Greenwich  Avenue,  met 
just  north  of  Washington  Square.  These  streets  are  the  only  remain- 
ing parts  of  the  Inland  Road  to  Greenwich,  connecting  with  the  Bow- 
ery. The  Greenwich  Avenue  portion  was  the  line  of  retreat  of  Sulli- 
van's Brigade  and  Knox's  Artillery,  September  15,  1776,  Aaron  Burr 
being. their  guide  (Route  19,  Battle  of  Harlem  Heights.)  Note  on 
map  difference  in  the  method  of  laying  out  and  designating  the 
streets  north,  south  and  west  of  Washington  Square  (see  introduc- 
tion to  Route  8).  *5 

The  Washington  Memorial  Arch  replaced  a  temp-^rary  arch 
built  in  1889  at  the  time  of  the  centennial  of  Washington's  inau- 
guration. The  present  arch,  designed  by  Stanford  White,  was  erected 
1890-5  by  popular  subscription  at  a  cost  of  $128,000.  *  6 

The  heroic  Statue  of  Garibaldi,  by  Giovanni  Turini,  was  pre- 
sented in  1888  by  Italian  residents  in  New  York.  The  colossal 
bust  of  Alexander  L.  Holley,  inventor  of  Bessemer  steel,  by  J.  Q. 
A.  Ward,  was  erected  in  1890  at  the  expense  of  Engineers  of 
Europe  and  America. 

The  New  York  University  Building,  facing  the  Square  at  the 
east,  stands  on  the  site  of  the  original  Gothic  structure  built 
1832-5  and  torn  down  1894-5  to  make  way  for  the  present  building 
which  is  used  by  the  Schools  of  Law,  Pedagogy,  Commerce,  etc. 
In  the  old  building  Morse  painted  and  experimented  with  his  tele- 
graphic apparatus.  Draper  wrote  and  perfected  his  invention  of 
the  daguerreotype  and  Colt  invented  the  revolver  named  for  him.*  7 
Go  down  West  Broadway  to  West  Third  Street. 

See  old  buildings  at  60-58  West  Third  Street  and  the  sign  of 
"The  Black  Cat"  (formerly  designating  a  popular  French  res- 
taurant) at  551  West  Broadway.    (Sign  removed  tqti.) 

80 


Square 


MANHATTAN 


10  Route 


Go  west  on  West  Third  Street. 

West  Third  Street,  originally  Amity  Street,  was  an  old-time 
fashionable  thoroughfare,  among  the  residents  on  which  were 
Governor  Lucius  Robinson  and  Judge  Grosbeck.  See  several  old 
residences  with  ornamental  doorways,  iron  railings  and  newel  posts, 
now  Italian  and  negro  tenements. 

26.  St.  Clement's  Church,  108  West  Third  Street,  contains  an 
organ  built  for  St.  John's  Chapel  in  1814.  It  was  captured  by  the 
British  and  ransomed  for  $2,000.  In  1851  it  was  rebuilt  and  placed 
here.  The  only  vault  in  St.  Clement's  is  that  in  which  are  the 
remains  of  John  Pintard,  the  founder  of  the  New  York  Historical 
Society,  and  those  of  all  his  kinsmen  removed  by  him  from  the 
old  French  graveyard  on  Pine  Street.    {Demolished  191 1.) 

Go  down  McDoiigal  Street  one  block,  east  on  Minetta  Lane  and  down 
Minetta  Street. 

27.  Through  Minetta  Street  once  ran  Minetta  Water,  or  Brook, 
called  by  the  Dutch  Bestavaar's  Killetje,  "  Grandfather's  little  creek  " 
(see  Plate  XXI,  Route  14).  Note  the  curious  old  houses  and  angles 
here  and  on  Minetta  Place. 

Go  west  on  Bleecker  to  Christopher  Street. 

Bleecker  Street  was  originally  called  Herring  Street  for  the  old  * 
farm  of  the  Herring  family.    Pass  several  rows  of  old  dwellings  on 
Bleecker  and  Carmine  Streets. 

28.  Home  of  Tom  Paine,  at  309  (some  say  293)  Bleecker  Street, 
where  he  lived  with  Mme.  Bonneville.  He  died  at  the  site  of  59 
Grove  Street.  Barrow  Street  was  called  Reason  Street  (later 
Raisin  Street)  for  Paine's  "  Age  of  Reason  "  by  the  Commission- 
ers who  designed  the  City  Plan  of  1807. 

29.  The  Commissioner's  OMce  was  at  the  northeast  corner  of 
Christopher  and  Bleecker  Streets.  The  original  building,  slightly  al- 
tered, still  remains. 

Go  east  on  Christopher  Street  to  West  Fourth  Street. 

30.  St.  John's  Lutheran  Church,  81   Christopher  Street,  was 
built  in  1821  as  the  Eighth  Presbyterian  Church. 

The  site  of  the  Spencer  Mansion  is  at  the  east  sijde  of  West  Fourth,  near  West 
Tenth  Street;  it  was  used  in  1822  as  a  city  post  office  during  the  yellow  fever 
period. 

81 


Route  10 


HISTORICAL    GUIDE     Jefferson  Market 


Go  east  on  West  Fourth  Street  to  Sheridan  Square. 

West  Fourth  Street  was  called  Asylum  Street,  as  the  New  York  Orphan 
Asylum  was  established  here. 

31.  Old  house,  135  West  Washington  Place,  facing  on  Sheri- 
dan Square. 

■Return  and  continue  east  on  Christopher  Street. 

2,2.  Christopher  Street  Square;  the  meeting  point  of  eight 
streets,  in  the  center  of  what  Hemstreet  calls  The  Mouse  Trap." 
See  at  the  end  of  Square  the  Northern  Dispensary  instituted  in 
1827,  present  building  erected  in  1831;  note  the  tablet. 

Return  and  continue  east  on  Christopher  Street. 

33.  The  houses  at  11  Christopher  Street,  opposite  Gay  Street, 
were  occupied  a  century  ago  by  Scotch  weavers.  The  gardens 
extended  down  to  Greenwich  Avenue. 

34.  Jefferson  Market  {Nezv  Greenwich  Market)  :  market,  court, 
prison,  the  site  originally  a  pond.  The  building  is  the  home  of 
the  Exempt  Firemen's  Organization  (entrance  at  No.  10  on  the 
Greenwich  Avenue  side),  in  whose  rooms  may  be  seen  an  in- 
teresting exhibit  of  old  fire  apparatus,  pictures,  etc.  (visitors  wel- 
come.) 

See  the  old  houses  at  129-131  West  loth  Street,  covered  with 
wistaria  vines. 


82 


MANHATTAN 


ADDENDA— 191 1 

*i  (P-  73)-  This  market  was  at  the  foot  of  W.  loth  Street  until 
Gansevoort  Market  was  opened. 

*2  (p.  75).  The  keg  used  at  this  ceremony  is  now  in  the  building  of 
the  N.  Y.  Historical  Society. 

At  Christopher  and  Canal  streets  were  stations  of  the  N.  Y.  Central 
R.  R.,  Chambers  and  Hudson  streets  being  the  terminal. 

The  cars  were  drawn  by  horses  to  30th  Street,  where  locomotives 
were  attached. 

In  the  early  ''forties"  David  C.  Broderick  had  a  home  on  the  corner 
of  Commerce  and  Barrow  streets.  He  went  to  California  during  the 
gold  fever,  and  being  very  popular  w^as  elected  U.  S.  Senator. 

*3  (p.  75)-  Senator  Broderick  was  later  shot  in  a  duel  by  Judge 
Terry.  It  is  said  that  he  and  General  Winfield  Scott  used  to  frequent 
the  tavern  once  called  "the  Barracks"  (see  4,  p.  73). 

*4  (p.  76).  At  113^  Carmine  Street  Poe  lived  and  wrote  Arthur 
Gordon  Pym.  No.  4  Charlton  Street,  now  occupied  by  an  Industrial 
School,  was  the  first  home  owned  by  William  Astor,  brother  of  the  first 
John  Jacob  Astor.  When  the  Astors  moved  uptown  on  Lafayette  Place 
the  house  became  a  tenement,  the  basement  being  used  for  a  time  as  a 
tobacco  manufactory! 

On  Clark  Street  (below  the  foot  of  IVIcDougal  Street)  is  an  old- 
fashioned,  out-door  smithy. 

*5  (p.  80).  McDougal  Alley,  formerly  called  ''Washington  IMews," 
because  used  for  stables  of  the  houses  of  the  Square,  is  a  famous  resort 
for  artists,  whose  studios  occupy  the  reconstructed  upper  floors  of  the 
former  stables. 

*6  (p.  80).  A  temporary  arch  was  first  built  across  Fifth  Avenue, 
running  from  corner  to  corner  opposite  the  north  side  of  the  Square. 

*7  (p.  80).  Tablet  to  Adam  Roelantsen  and  other  early  school- 
masters, on  the  north  side  of  the  University  building. 


83 


NOTES 


84 


EXCURSION  NO.  III.— THE  BOWERY  AND  EAST  SIDE. 
By  Frank  Bergen  Kelley. 


Copyright,    1905,   by   the   City   History   Club   of   New  Yorkc 
(Revised  1909  and  1912.) 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


THE  BOWERY  AND  EAST  SIDE 


Bibliography. 

Works  by  Ulmann,  Hemstreet,  R.  R.  Wilson,  Innes  and  Janvier 
mentioned  in  Excursion  VII. 

"When  Old  New  York  was  Young'*  (chapters  on  "The  Story  of 
Chatham  Square,"  "  Old  Time  Theatres/'  "  Bouwerie  Village,"  and 
"Around  the  Collect  Pond")  by  Hemstreet. 

"Historic  New  York"  (papers  on  "The  14  Miles  Round,"  "The 
Bowery,"  and  "Old  Wells  and  Water  Courses"). 

"  Charlotte  Temple,"  by  Mrs.  Rowson ;  with  an  historical  and  bio- 
graphical introduction  by  Francis  W.  Halsey. 

"  The  Evolution  of  Stuyvesant  Village,"  by  A.  A.  Rikeman  (pub- 
lished by  G.  C.  Peck). 

"  Annals  of  New  York  Methodism,"  by  Seaman. 
Memorial  of  St.  Mark's  Church"  (published  by  the  Vestry). 

The  East  Side  is  to-day  chiefly  interesting  for  the  great  field  it 
offers  to  the  sociologist  and  the  philanthropist.  Attempts  are  now 
being  made  to  solve  many  difficult  problems  in  the  city  administra- 
tion such  as  the  public  provision  of  parks,  baths,  playgrounds  and 
recreation  piers.  The  diversified  characteristics  of  the  people,  many 
of  whom  talk,  dress  and  live  after  the  manners  of  the  Fatherland, 
make  the  East  Side  particularly  attractive  to  the  casual  visitor. 

N.  B.  "  Social  Settlements,"  by  Henderson  and  "  The  Better  New 
York,"  by  Tolman  and  Hemstreet,  are  recommended  as  special  works 
of  reference. 

*  refers  to  Addenda,  1912,  p.  loi. 

See  also : 

"  History  of  St.  George's  Church  in  the  City  of  New  York,"  by 
Rev.  Henry  Anstice;  Harper,  191 1. 
"  Peter  Stuyvesant,"  by  Bayard  Tuckerman. 

"  A  Brief  Account  of  an  Historic  Church :  the  Reformed  Church : 
the  Collegiate  Church  of  the  City  of  New  York,"  published  by  the 
Consistory. 


87 


KoKBia  WlLLLAM  EkVUCM. 


Plate  XVIII.    Bowery  Village, 
38 


MANHATTAN 


ROUTE  II. 

SECTION  L— BOWERY  VILLAGE. 
Between  Second  and  Sixteenth  Streets. 
(Figures  refer  to  Plate  XIX;  see  also  XVII,  XVIII). 

Peter  Stuyvesan*  purchased  from  the  West  India  Company  the  Great  Bouwerie 
(farm)  for  a  country  seat,  and  here  he  came  to  live  after  the  surrender  of 
New  Amsterdam.  Bouwerie  Lane  connected  his  farm  with  the  City  and  with 
Harlem,  and  formed  part  of  the  Old  Post  Road. 

The  oldest  settled  portion  of  this  part  of  Manhattan  was  in  the  vicinity  of  - 
Stuyvesant's  Bowery  House,  around  which  a  little  hamlet  grew  up.  The  oUl 
street  plan  of  Bowerie  \'illage  may  be  seen  in  Plate  XX'III,  but  the  original 
streets  and  names  have  all  disappeared,  with  the  exception  of  the  Bowery  and 
Stuyvesant  Street.  In  1807  was  inaugurated  the  new  City  Plan  of  numbered 
streets  and  avenues  arranged  at  right  angles  to  each  other,  but  there  could  be 
no  regularity  until  Thirteenth  Street  was  reached,  above  which  the  "  checker- 
board plan  '    has  prevailed. 

Since  the  early  days  the  shore  line  has  been  extended,  largely  by  the  redemp- 
tion of  great  salt  meadows,  including  Tompkins  Square. 

Manhattan  Island  (to  be  distinguished  from  the  Island  of  Manhattan)  was 
a  height  covering  the  blocks  between  Houston,  Lewis  and  Third  Streets  and  the 
East  River.  This  was  formerly  surrounded  by  swamps  and  became  an  island 
at  high  tide.     The  region  was  once  known  as  Dry  Dock  Village. 

The  Third  Street  Recreation  Pier  was  built  here  in  1897  to  provide  fresh  air 
and  good  music   for  the  crowded  neighborhood. 

From  Astor  Place  Subway  Station  or  the  Ninth  Street  Station  of  the 
Third  Avenue  elevated  R.  R.  go  east  on  Stuyvesant  Street. 

1.  Former  home  of  Nicholas  Stuyvesant,  21  Stuyvesant  Street, 
where  Hamilton  Fish  was  born.  See  old-fashioned  houses  on 
south  side  of  the  street. 

2.  St.  Mark's-m-the-Bowery,  Second  Avenue  and  Eleventh 
Street,  the  second  oldest  church  edifice  (on  the  oldest  church 
site  still  occupied  by  a  church)  in  Manhattan,  erected  1795-99  on 
the  site  of  the  early  chapel  built  by  Peter  Stuyvesant.  Judith 
Stuyvesant  left  the  chapel  to  the  Dutch  Reformed  Church  on 
condition  that  the  family  vault  be  preserved.  Peter,  the  great- 
grandson  of  Governor  Stuyvesant,  gave  the  land,  chapel  and  $2,- 
000,  to  which  Trinity  added  $12,500,  and  the  present  church  was 
built,  the  steeple  being  added  in  1829  and  the  porch  in  1858. 

Stuyvesant's  Tomb  is  beneath  the  tablet  erected  to  his  memory  % 
under  the  southeast  end  of  the  church.    In  the  same  vault  are  the 
remains  of  Governor  Sloughter  (died  1691),  and  across  the  walk, 
in  the  Minthorne  vault.  Governor  D.  T.  Tompkins  is  buried. 

In  the  churchyard  may  also  be  seen  the  graves  of  A.  T.  Stewart 
r whose  body  was  stolen  about  1878),  Mayor  Philip  Hone,  Dr. 
Harris,  first  rector  of  the  church  and  ex-president  of  Columbia, 
and  Thos.  Addis  Emmett  (in  Chancellor  Jones*  vault).  Within 

89 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Bowery  Village  MANHATTAN 


II  Route 


the  church  may  be  seen  some  of  the  original  furniture  (the  com- 
munion cloth  of  1799  and  the  communion  plate  of  1845)  ^^^^  a 
number  of  memorial  tablets  to  prominent  New  Yorkers.  See  also 
Stuyvesant  Memorial  Windows,  erected  by  the  Daughters  of  Hol- 
land Dames.  *  i 

The  old  Bowery  Village  graveyard  was  in  the  block  bounded  by  Eleventh  and 
Twelfth    Streets    and    First    and    Second  Avenues. 

Stuyvesant's  Bouwerie  House  was  just  northwest  and  is  said  to  have  been 
the  place  where  the  terms  of  surrender  to  the  English  were  signed  in  1664. 
The  house  was  burned  in  the  early  part  of  the  Revolution.  Petersfield, 
another  home  of  the  Stuyvesants,  was  on  the  East  River  shore  between  Fifteenth 
and  Sixteenth  Streets.  ^  Nicholas  Wm.  Stuyvesant's  house  was  between  First 
and  Second  Avenues,  Eighth  and  Ninth  Streets,  with  an  approach  from  Sixth ' 
Street  and  Bowery  Lane   (see  Plate  XV'III). 

The  former  home  of  the^  New  York  Historical  Society  (now  at  Central  Park 
West  and  Seventy-sixth  Street)  stands  at  170  Second  Avenue,  facing  the 
church. 

Go  north  on  Second  Avenue,  passing 

3.  An  old  Stuyvesant  residence  remodeled  as  an  apartment 
house  at  175  Second  Avenue  and,  at  180  Second  Avenue,  a  former 
home  of  President  Buchanan.  *  2 

Go  west  on  Thirteenth  Street  to  Third  Avenue, 

4.  Tablet  (northeast  corner  Thirteenth  Street  and  Third  Av- 
enue) marks  the  site  of  Peter  Stuyvesant's  pear  tree,  brought 
about  1647  or  1665  to  his  Bouwerie,  where  it  bore  fruit  for  over 
two  centuries.  A  picture  of  the  tree  and  a  branch  of  it  may  be 
seen  in  the  Governor's  Room  in  City  Hall.  A  cross-section  is  in 
the  New  York  Historical  Society  building. 

Go  up  Third  Avenue. 

5.  Second  Mile  Stone,  Third  Avenue,  between  Sixteenth  and 
Seventeenth  Streets,  marks  the  distance  from  the  present  City 
Hall,  originally  placed  near  the  site  of  Cooper  Union.  *  3 

Go  east  on  Sixteenth  Street  to 

6.  Stuyvesant  Square,  part  of  the  Stuyvesant  estate,  once  a 
private  park. 

St.  George's  Church,  built  1845-8  (successor  to  St.  George's 
Chapel,  on  Beekman  Street),  and  the   Friends'  Meeting  House  ^ 
and  School  (successor  to  the  Meeting  House  on  Pearl  and  Rose 
Streets),  face  it  on  the  south.*  4 

Take  car  south  on  Second  Avenue  to 

7.  The  Middle  Dutch  Church  (Second  Avenue  and  Seventh 
Street),  successor  to  the  Church  of  St,  Nicholas  in  Fort  Amsterdam 
and  to  the  Middle  Church  at  Nassau  and  Cedar  Streets.  See  the 
tablet  on  the  Second  Avenue  side.    Within   (entrance  at  50  East 

91 


Route  II 


HISTORICAL    GUIDE       Bowery  Village 


Seventh  Street)  may  be  seen  pictures  of  the  old  buildings  and  four 
memorial  tablets  in  memory  of  (i)  Peter  IMinuit,  first  Director- 
General  and  elder  of  the  original  church ;  (2)  Sebastian  Jansen  Krol 
and  Jan  Huyck,  kranken  besoekers  (visitors  of  the  sick)  ;  (3)  Rev. 
Jonas  Michaelius,  the  first  minister  and  (4)  J.  C.  Lanphier,  founder 
of  the  Fulton  Street  prayer  meeting. 

See  also  tablet  to  victims  of  the  Slocum  disaster,  1904,  and  the 
coat  of  arms  of  John  Harpendinck  (Excursion  I:4i). 

A  monument  in  the  southwest  corner  of  Tompkins  Square 
also  commemorates  the  burning  of  the  Slocum  in  the  East  River, 
the  victims  being  chiefly  children  living  in  this  neighborhood. 

8.  The  Seventh  Street  M.  E.  Church,  24  Seventh  Street,  erected 
in  1836-7,  succeeded  the  Bowery  Village  Church  which  was  built  in 
1795  at  the  Two-Mile  stone  on  the  site  of  Cooper  Union  (see  14).*  5 

9.  New  York  Marble  Cemetery  (gate  af  41 2  Second  Avenue), 
established  in  1830,  now  almost  forgotten,  although  there  are  over 
150  vaults  here  of  the  Judson,  Lorillard,  Grosvenor,  Oates,  Hol- 
land, Wyckoff  and  Bloodgood  families,  and  1,500  burials  are  re- 
corded. According  to  a  scarcely  decipherable  inscription  on  the 
wall  it  was  intended  as  a  "  place  of  interment  for  gentlemen.'*  It 
is  hoped  that  this  old  cemetery  may  be  converted  into  a  play- 
ground. 

10.  New  York  City  Marble  Cemetery,  Second  Street,  east  of 
Second  Avenue,  incorporate^  in  1832.  Here  are  buried  James 
Lenox  and  two  of  the  Dutch  dominies,  and  here  for  a  time  were 
the  remains  of  John  Ericsson,  President  Monroe,  and  Mrs.  Paran 
Stevens,  and  Preserved  Fish.    See  old  sun-dial. 

The  playground  of  the  school  on  Second  Street,  between  Av- 
enue A  and  First  Avenue,  occupies  the  graveyard  of  the  Second 
Street  M.  E.  Church,  which  was  built  in  1832,  at  276  Second  Street 
(see  tablet). 

Hamilton  Fish  Park,  between  Pitt  and  Sheriff  Streets,  south  of 
Houston  Street,  opened  in  1896-8,  two  blocks  of  foul  tenements, 
which  included  the  notorious  Bone  Alley,  being  razed.  See  the  open 
air  gymnasium,  playgrouiid,  public  baths  and  rest  house. 

Go  west  on  Second  and  north  on  Lafayette  Street. 

The  names  of  Elm  Street,  New  Elm  Street,  including  part  of 
Marion  Street,  and  Lafayette  Place  were  changed  in  1905  to  Lafayette 
Street  after  the  various  divisions  had  been  widened  and  improved. 

92 


Cooper  Union  MANHATTAN  ii  Route 

IT.  Colonnade  Row,  partly  demolished,  now  at  428-434  La- 
fayette Street,  formerly  called  La  Grange  Terrace,  in  honor  of  Gen- 
eral Lafayette's  home,  was  built  in  1827,  and  was  for  a  time  the 
home  of  Washington  Irving  and  John  Jacob  Astor.  From  one 
of  the  houses  in  the  row  President  Tyler  was  married  to  Julia 
Gardiner,  of  Gardiner*s  Island. 

12.  Astor  Library,  built  by  John  Jacob  Astor,  incorporated 
1849,  opened  1854,  and  now  part  of  the  New  York  Public  Library, 
contains  many  rare  and  very  valuable  books  and  prints.  *6 

On  this  site,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  Eighteenth  century,  Sperry,  a  Swiss, 
kept  a  fruit  and  flower  garden,  selling  it  in  1803  to  Astor,  who  leased  it  to 
Delacroix.  The  latter  here  established  his  new  Vauxhall  Garden,  which  was  a 
fashionable  resort  until  1855.  Lafayette  Place  was  opened  through  the  Gar- 
den in  1826.  Madame  Canda's  famous  private  school  for  young  ladies  was 
located  here. 

13.  Clinton  Hall  on  Astor  Place  (home  of  the  Mercantile  Li- 
brary), successor  of  the  original  Clinton  Hall  on  Beekman  and  Nas- 
sau Streets,  was  named  for  Dewitt  Clinton,  who  in  1820  helped  es- 
tablish the  Mercantile  Library.  On  this  site  was  the  Astor  Place 
Opera  House,  the  scene  of  the  Forrest  and  Macready  riots  in  1849. 

Astor  Place,  originally  called  Art  Street,  connected  the  Bowery  with  Green- 
wich Avenue,  forming  part  of  the  Inland  Road  to  Greenwich,  opened  1768 
(Excursion  II,   Route  10). 

See  the  statue  of  Samuel  Sullivan  Cox  (''Sunset  Cox"),  the 
"  Letter  Carriers'  Friend,"  in  the  public  square  created  in  1836. 

Charlotte  Temple  is  supposed  to  have  lived  for  a  time  near  the  southwest 
corner  of  Astor  Place  (Art  Street)  and  Fourth  Avenue  (Bowery). 

14.  Cooper  Union,  devoted  to  "  Science  and  Art,"  by  Peter 
Cooper,  in  1854,  on  the  site  of  the  ''Two-Mile  Stone"  (see  8), 
where  was  held  one  of  the  first  New  York  Sunday-Schools,  Peter 
Cooper  acting  as  Superintendent.  See  the  free  reading-room,  li- 
brary. Cooper  Union  Museum  for  the  Arts  of  Decoration.*/ 

In  the  triangular  place  south,  is  the  statue  of  Cooper  (by  St. 
Gaudens,  1896),  on  the  site  of  which  was  a  great  hay-stand  con- 
nected with  Tompkins  Market.  The  Seventh  Regiment  marched 
from  this  point  in  1861. 


P3 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


94 


MANHATTAN 


ROUTE  12. 

SECTION  II— THE  BOWERY,  CHATHAM  SQUARE  AND 
COLLECT  POND. 

(Figures  refer  to  Plate  XX;  see  also  XVII). 


The  Bowery  Lane  begins  at  Chatham  Square  and  originally  continued  up 
Fourth  Avenue  to  Madison  Square  (see  Excursion  V,  Section  2).  In  English 
days  it  was  called  Bowery  Road,  shortened  in  1807  to  The  Bowery.  Chatliam 
Street  (now  Park  Row)  and  the  Bowery  formed  the  chief  and,  in  fact,  the 
only  important  thoroughfare  northward  until  long  after  the  Revolution. 

The  Bayard  Farm,  owned  by  a  nephew  of  Peter  Stuyvesant,  lay  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Bowery,  between  Bleecker  and  Canal  Streets,  extending  west  to 
McDougal  Street.  Hester  Street  was  namd  for  Hester  Bayard.  North  of  this 
lay  the  Bleecker  farm. 

On  Grand  Street  was  a  line  of  British  earthworks  in  the  Revolution; 
Bunker  Hill  or  Bayard's  Mount  was  at  Grand  Street,  between  the  Bowery  and 
Broadway.  The  Bayard  Mansion  stood  on  the  site  of  the  block  bounded  by 
Grand,  Broome,  Crosby  and  Lafayette  Streets,  and  was  approached  by  Bayard 
Lane,  on  the  line  of  Broome  Street. 

Delancey  Street  was  originally  a  lane  from  the  house  of  James  Delancey, 
Chief  Justice,  1733,  at  the  corner  of  Chrystie  Street,  about  the  site  of  the 
Mills  Hotel  No.  2.  It  has  recently  been  widened  and  is^  to  be  parked  as  an 
approach  to  the  Williamsburg  Bridge.  The  Delancey  Farm  stretched  along 
the  Bowery  to  Division  Street  and  east  to  the  river.  The  estate  was  sold  under 
forfeiture  after  the  Revolution,  the  De  Lanceys  being  loyalists.  Division  Street 
was  so  called  because  it  marked  the  division  between  the  above  and  the  Rutgers 
farm.  Great  or  Delancey  Square,  as  planned  in  the  Ratzer  Map  of  1767,  would 
have  been  bounded  by  Broome  and  Hester,  Eldridge  and  Essex  Streets.  Oliver 
and  James  Streets  are  named  for  members  of  the  family  (see  Plate  XVII). 

The  Collect  or  Fresh  Water  Pond,  60  feet  deep,  once  covered  70  acres 
bounded  by  Lafayette,  White,  Mulberry  and  Leonard  Streets.  In  1626  the 
murder  of  an  Indian  here  led  to  a  massacre  in  Governor  Kieft's  day.  The 
execution  of  criminals  took  place  here  in  early  Colonial  days  and  the  supply 
of  gunpowder  was  stored  in  a  house  at  the  back  of  the  Pond.  This  was  a 
favorite  resort  for  fishermen  and  skaters,  and  here  Fitz-Greene  Ilalleck's  father 
is  said  to  have  saved  Prince  William  (later  William  I\'  of  England)  from 
drowning  in  1781.  In  1774  Christopher  (Tolles  built  a  pumping  station  at  Pearl 
Street  and  Broadway  and  a  reservoir  at  Broadway  and  White  Street,  in  order 
to  supply  the  city  with  water  from  the  pond.  The  Little  Collect  was  between 
Lafayette,  Worth,  Duane  and  Park  Streets  and  joined  with  the  Collect.  In 
1796  John  Fitch  experimented  with  his  steamboat  on  the  Collect  Pond  which 
later  became  a  menace  to  the  health  of  the  community  and  was  filled  in  about 
1821,  its  water  being  drained  off  by  a  cut  made  to  the  North  River  through 
Canal  Street  which  then  received  its  present  name. 

Note:  The  usual  explanation  of  the  word  Collect  is  that  it  comes  from  the 
Dutch  **  Kalch  Hoek  "  or  "  Lime  Shell  Point,"  supposed  to  be  derived  from 
the  Indian  shell  heaps  discovered  here,  but  Mr.  Edward  Hagaman  Hall  found 
that  *'  Kolk "  is  a  common  term  used  in  Holland  to  designate  an  enclosed 
portion  of  a  canal, orlittlepond.  (See  1912  Report,  Am.  Scenicand  Hist.  Pres.  Soc.) 


95 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Plate  XX.    Routes  12,  13.  C.  K. 


The  Bowery 


MANHATTAN 


la  Route 


Take  Third  Arcnue  car  down  the  Bozvery  to  Chatham  Square,  passing 

15.  First  Mile  Stone,  Bowery,  opposite  Rivington  Street,  and 
One  IMile  House,  across  the  way.  *  3 

16.  The  Thalia  Theatre  (so  called  in  1879),  j^^st  south  of  Canal 
Street,  originally  Bowery  Theatre,  and  the  fifth  of  that  name  and  on 
the  same  site.  The  old  Bowery  Theatre  (built  1826)  was  the  first 
theatre  in  New  York  lighted  by  gas,  and  here  Charlotte  Cushman 
played  to  fashionable  audiences.  On  the  same  site,  in  1760,  stood  the 
Bull's  Head  Tavern,  where  drovers  traded  and  where  Washington 
rested  on  his  entrance  to  the  city  in  1783. 

Forsyth  Street  Methodist  Church,  8  Forsyth  Street,  near  Canal 
Street,  recently  sold  and  turned  into  a  Jewish  playhouse.  The  orig- 
inal church  was  erected  in  1789  and  rebuilt  1833;  remodeled  in  1872-4. 

17.  Chatham  Square,  called  by  the  Indians  Warpoes  or  Small  Hill,  a  clear- 
in.j?  in  the  woods  fenced  off  for  cattle  in  1647,  and  granted  to  twelve  old 
freedmen  of  the  West  India  Company.  Wolfert  Weber's  Tavern  was  located 
here.  According  to  tradition,  Charlotte  Temple  died  in  a  house  at  the  corner 
of  Pell  Street  and  Chatham  Square.  Chatham  Square,  Chatham  and  Pitt 
Streets  were  named  for  Wm.   Pitt,   Earl  of  Chatham. 

18.  "The  Jews'  Burial  Ground"  (Oliver  Street  and  New  Bow- 
ery), as  it  is  called  on  old  city  maps,  granted  in  1656  and  deeded 
to  the  Jews  in  1729-30,  is  the  oldest  Jewish  cemetery  in  New 
York.  In  1902  it  was  marked  by  a  tablet  erected  under  the  aus- 
pices of  The  American  Scenic  and  Historic  Preservation  Society 
and  The  Jewish  Historical  Society.  It  was  a  fortified  hill  during 
the  Revolution. '♦'8  ' 

The  Tea  Water  Pximp,  one  of  the  chief  sources  of  the  supply  of  drinking 
water  in  early  days,  was  located  at  166  Chatham  Street  (Park  Row),  just  south 
of  Chatham  Square.  Diagonally  across  the  street  was  The  Chatham  or  Purdy's 
National  Theatre  in  which  Uncle  Tom's  Cabin  was  first  produced  in  1852. 

The  first  Kissing  Bridge  crossed  Old  Wreck  Brook  at  Roosevelt  Street  (Ex- 
cursion 1:46).     This  is  the  center  of  a  Greek  settlement. 

Go  east  on  Henry  Street. 

19.  Mariners'  Temple,  Oliver  and  Henry  Streets,  now  used  as 
an  Italian  Church,  was  built  in  1843  on  the  site  of  the  old  Oliver 
Street  Baptist  Church;  see  tablet.  *  9 

P.  S.  No.  I,  opposite  19,  is  the  successor  to  the  first 
Free  School  of  Nezsj  York.    (Excursion  1:8). 

20.  Church  of  the  Sea  and  Land,  built  in  1817,  stands  on 
Henry  Street,  southwest  corner  of  Market  Street;  see  tablet. 

Return  on  Henry  Street  to  Chatham  Square  and  go  north  on  Mott 

Street. 


97 


Route  12 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Five  Points 


21.  Roman  Catholic  Church  of  the  Transfiguration,  corner  of 
Mott  and  Park  Streets,  is  successor  to  Zion  Lutheran,  later  an 
Episcopal  Church,  built  in  1801,  rebuilt  in  1818.  This  is  the  cen- 
ter of  Chinatown. 

Go  west  on  Park  Street,  crossing 

Mulberry  Bend  Park,  made  by  the  demolition  of  crowded  blocks 
of  tenement  houses,  giving  light,  air  and  recreation  to  the  neigh- 
borhood. *  10 

22.  The  Five  Points,  once  a  most  dangerous  part  of  the  slums, 
now  the  site  of  Paradise  Park,  which  is  faced  by  the  Five  Points 
Mission,  incorporated  in  1850  (on  the  site  of  the  notorious  Old  Brew- 
ery), and  the  Five  Points  House  of  Industry.  In  1740  fourteen 
negroes  were  burned  here  during  the  Negro  Insurrection.  Here  the 
"  Dead  Rabbits "  had  their  headquarters  and  fought  the  "  Bowery 
Boys."  The  Seventh  Regiment  was  called  out  July  3,  1857,  to  quell  a 
riot  here. 

Continue  west  on  Park  Street  to  Centre  Street, 

23.  The  Manhattan  Water  Tank  (consisting  of  iron  plates  fas- 
tened by  metal  pins),  northwest  corner  of  Reade  and  Centre 
Streets,  now  enclosed  but  visible  through  the  windows.  This  tank 
was  built  by  the  Manhattan  Water  Company  which  was  headed 
by  Aaron  Burr,  whose  real  aim  was  to  get  a  charter  in  1799  for 
the  Manhattan  Bank,  now  at  40  Wall  Street.  (Excursion  VII 123). 
The  source  of  the  water  supply  is  the  same  springs  which  orig- 
inally filled  the  Collect  Pond.  Wooden  pipes,  made  by  boring 
logs,  were  laid  through  the  streets.  It  is  known  to  the  nearby 
residents  as  "  the  old  well."  Good  specimens  of  the  pipes  may  be 
seen  in  the  Manhattan  Bank  and  in  the  New  York  Historical 
Society  building. 

24.  Cobweb  Hall  at  80  Duane  Street,  an  old  road-house,  the 
framework  of  the  building  dating  back  to  about  1780.  See  within 
the  cobwebs  and  old  pictures,  theatre  programs  and  curios. 

Gn  up  Centre  Street. 

25.  The  Tombs  and  the  Criminal  Court  Building,  joined  by  the 
Bridge  of  Sighs.  The  original  Tombs  was  erected  in  1838  of  stone 
brought  from  the  Bridewell  in  City  Hall  Square.  The  site  is  near  the 
centre  of  the  Collect  Pond. 

08 


MANHATTAN 


ROUTE  13. 

SECTION  III.— -CORLAER'S  HOOK  PARK,  AND  GRAND 
STREET  TO  BROADWAY. 
(Figures  refer  to  Plate  XX). 
Take  Canal  Street  car  east  to  Scammel  Street,  passing 
through  the  Ghetto,  so  called  from  the  large  Jewish  population. 

26.  Wm.  H.  Seward  Park  and  open-air  playground  made  by  the 
removal  of  several  blocks  of  tenements. 

Go  south  on  Scammel  Street. 

27.  All  Saints'  Church  (built  1828),  southeast  corner  of  Henry 
and  Scammel  Streets. 

Go  south  on  Scammel  and  east  on  Cherry  Street  to 

28.  Corlaer's  Hook  Park  which,  with  the  adjacent  territory,  was 
part  of  Jacob  Corlaer's  lands  in  early  Colonial  days.  The  Indians 
named  this  Naig-ia-nac  or  Sand  Lands,  and  here  they  had  a  village 
from  which  a  trail  ran  on  the  line  of  Grand  Street  across  the  island 
and  up  to  Sappokanican.  Here,  in  1643,  a  number  of  defenceless 
Indians  were  slaughtered  by  order  of  Governor  Kieft. 

Go  north  to  Grand  Street  and  take  car  west  on  Grand  Street  to  La- 
fayette Street,  passing 

29.  The  statue  of  Gutenberg,  inventor  of  movable  type  (by 
Ralph  Goddard),  on  the  Hoe  Building,  Grand  and  Sheriff  Streets. 
An  interesting  old  press  may  be  seen  within.  Willett  and  Sheriff 
Streets  were  named  for  Colonel  Marinus  Willett  of  Revolution- 
ary fame,  Sheriff  and  Mayor  of  New  York  about  one  hundred 
years  ago. 

Mount  Pitt  was  an  eminence  at  Grand  and  Pitt  Streets. 

30.  St.  Mary's  Roman  Catholic  Church,  at  Grand  and  Ridge 
Streets,  contains  the  oldest  bell  in  a  Catholic  Church  in  Man- 
hattan. 

31.  Old  Essex  Market  (built  1818)  and  Police  Court  (1856), 
Essex  and  Grand  Streets.  Ludlow  Street  Jail,  north  of  Essex  ^ 
Market,  is  the  jail  of  New  York  County.  It  was  used  as  a  prison 
for  debtors  and,  until  recently,  for  Federal  prisoners  in  New 
York  City.  It  was  built  in  1859-60,  succeeding  the  Eldridge 
Street  Prison;  see  tablet.  *  11 

32.  First  building  of  the  Board  of  Education,  northwest  corner 
of  Lafayette  Street,  now  used  as  a  High  School  annex.  See  tab- 
let. 


99 


Route  13 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


St.  Patrick's 


Go  north  on  Lafayette  to  Prince  Street. 

33.  Monroe  House,  63  Prince  Street,  home  of  Samuel  Gouver- 
neur  when  his  father-in-law,  ex-President  Monroe,  died  there  in 
1831.  See  the  tablet  erected  in  1905  by  the  Woman's  Auxiliary 
to  the  American  Scenic  and  Historic  Preservation  Society. 

Go  east  on  Prince  Street  to 

34.  St,  Patrick's  Roman  Catholic  Church,  between  Mott  and 
Elizabeth  Streets,  once  the  cathedral,  built  1809-15.  Vicar-Gen- 
eral Starr,  the  first  resident  Bishop  Connelly  and  "  Boss "  John 
Kelly  are  buried  here.  *  12 

Go  west  to  Broadway. 

Site  of  Nihlo's  Garden  and  Theatre,  northeast  corner  of  Broadway  and  Prince 
Street,  opposite  which  lived  James  Fenimore  Cooper. 

The  Garden  later  contained  the  famous  Metropolitan  Hotel  (1852-94). 

Go  north  on  Broadway. 

36.  Hotel  Raleigh,  known  once  as  the  Tremont  House,  oppo- 
site Bond  Street,  consists  in  part  of  the  first  houses  constructed 
with  marble  fronts  in  the  city,  built  in  1825.  *  13 

624  Broadway,  site  of  Laura  Keene's  Theatre,  later  the  Olympic. 
677  Broadway,  site  of  Tripler  Hall  and  the  first  Metropolitan  Opera  House 
where  Patti  first  sang  in  New  York. 


XOO 


MANHATTAN 


ADDENDA— 1912 

*i  (p.  91).  Tablets:  (1)  erected  1903  by  the  Daughters  of  Holland 
Dames  in  Commemoration  of  the  250th  anniversary  of  the  granting  of 
the  Charter  and  the  256th  of  the  landing  of  Peter  Stuyvesant  in  New- 
Amsterdam  ;  (2,  3)  for  Lt.  Col.  Nicholas  Fish  and  his  wife  Elizabeth,, 
a  daughter  of  Petrus  Stuyvesant;  (4)  for  Sergeant  Hamilton  Fish,  who 
died  in  the  Spanish-American  War;  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution  in  1904 
added  a  memorial  window  by  Tiffany  (as  are  also  the  Stuyvesant 
windows)  in  memory  of  Col.  Tallmadge  (u.  45). 

*2  (p.  91).  The  birthplace  of  Augustus  Van  Horn  Stuyvesant.  on  the 
site  of  another  Peter  Stuyvesant's  farm  house,  is  at  126  Second 
Avenue:  it  is  now  remodeled  for  a  motion  picture  theatre.  The 
Keteltas  Mansion  stands  on  the  N.  \V.  cor.  of  St.  Mark's  Place  and 
Second  Avenue.  It  is  about  to  be  remodeled  for  a  motion  picture 
theatre.  The  Rutherford  Mansion,  now  an  apartment  house  at  175 
Second  Avenue,  was  the  home  of  Lewis  M.  Rutherford,  the  astronomer. 
His  son  became  the  heir  of  Peter  Gerard  Stuyvesant,  his  uncle,  chang- 
ing his  own  name  to  Peter  Gerard  Stuyvesant. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  at  Second  Avenue  and  Fourteenth  Street- 
is  now  used  as  a  "Labor  Temple"  by  the  Presbyterian  Board  of  Home 
^lissions,  and  for  Hungarian  services. 

*3  (pp.  91.  97)-  These  milestones  are  soon  to  be  marked  with  tablets 
by  the  City  History  Club  (see  Appendix  A,  p.  37i)- 

*4  (pp.  91).  A  large  bell  set  in  the  garden  on  the  i6th  Street  side 
bears  the  inscription  "Presented  by  Thomas  H.  Smith,  Esq.,  to  the  Cor- 
poration of  St.  George's,  New  York.  1818." 

*5  (p.  92).  This  building  is  now  used  as  a  Ruthenian  Greek  Catholic 
Church,  and  has  been  slightly  altered  like  Oriental  architecture. 

*6  (p.  93).  All  the  books  and  prints  have  been  removed  (1911)  to 
the  new  Public  Library  at  40th  Street  and  Fifth  Avenue  (No.  3.  p.  117. 
and  appendix  D,  p.  395). 

*7  (p.  03)-  In  the  Great  Hall  of  Cooper  Union,  Freeborn  Garretson, 
Henry  Ward  Beecher  and  Wendell  Phillips  spoke  against  slavery  and 
secession.  Popular  mass  meetings  and  lecture  courses  are  held  here. 
See  memorial  tablets  and  testimonials  to  Peter  Cooper.  Abraham 
Lincoln  and  Charles  Sprague  Smith,  the  founder  of  People's  Institute. 

lOI 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Old  Tompkins  Market,  once  the  Sixty-ninth  Regiment  Armory,  oppo- 
site on  Third  Avenue,  has  been  torn  down  and  an  annex  erected  (1911- 
12)  to  accommodate  the  classes  of  Cooper  Institute. 

*8  (p.  97).  The  tablet  was  presented  by  Isidor  Straus  and  erected 
April  20,  1903.  On  the  building  at  the  N.  E.  corner  of  Oliver  and  Oak 
streets  are  several  curious  figures  on  the  Oak  Street  side :  disks,  field 
guns,  mortars,  etc.  The  owner  of  the  building  transferred  them  from 
the  building  formerly  on  this  site.  Tradition  connects  them  with  an 
event  in  a  tavern  here  at  the  close  of  the  Revolution,  but  this  appears 
impossible,  as  the  site  was  then  under  water. 

*9  (P-  97)'  The  tablet  states  that  the  original  church  was  erected  in 
I795»  rebuilt  in  1800  and  1812,  and  that  the  present  building  was  com- 
pleted in  1844.  It  is  now  used  for  services  in  the  English,  German, 
Italian  and  Greek  languages. 

See  tablet  on  the  w^all  of  P.  S.  2,  116  Henry  Street  between  Pike  and 
Rutgers  streets,  erected  by  the  Alumni  Association,  to  commemorate 
the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  founding  of  this  school,  organ- 
ized in  191 1  by  The  Free  School  Society  on  land  donated  by  Col. 
Henry  Rutgers. 

*io  (p.  98).  On  October  12,  191 1  (Columbus  Day),  the  name  was 
changed  to  Columbus  Park.  See  old  houses  at  466  Pearl  and  173 
Worth  streets. 

*ii  (p.  99).  Essex  Market  building  is  now  used  for  a  public  school 
and  the  Police  Court  has  been  removed  from  the  old  building. 

*I2  (p.  icq)  35.  "House  of  Lords,"  an  old  tavern,  S.  W.  corner  of 
East  Houston  and  Crosby  streets. 

There  are  several  quaint  old  houses  on  Mott  between  Grand  and 
Canal  streets. 

*I3  (p.  100).  The  Raleigh  was  torn  down  in  191 1.  See  tablet  at  719 
Broadway,  marking  the  site  of  the  New  York  Hotel,  i843-'44. 

Tablet  on  granite  shaft,  Delancey  Street  and  Bowery,  to  Timothy  D. 
Sullivan,  erected  by  his  friend,  John.  J.  White. 


102 


EXCURSION  v.— THE  NINETEENTH  CENTURY  CITY. 
TENTH  TO  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  TWENTY-FIFTH  STREET, 

By  Frank  Bergen  Kelley. 

Corrected  (1909)  with  the  aid  of  Hopper  Striker  Mott. 

Copyright,   1902,  by  the  City  History  Club  of  New  York. 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


THE  NINETEENTH  CENTURY  CITY. 


Bibliography. 

Works  by  Ulmann,  Janvier  Down  Love  Lane"),  R-  Wilson 
Hemstreet  (particularly  in  "When  Old  New  York  was  Young") 
mentioned  in  Excursion  VH. 

"  Felix  Oldboy's  Tour  Around  Old  New  York,"  by  Colonel  IMines. 

"Old  New  Y^ork,"  by  Greatorex. 

Valentine's  Manual  of  the  Common  Council  of  New  York. 
"The  New  Y^ork  of  Yesterday— Bloomingdale,"  by  ]Mott. 
*'The  Greatest  Street  in  the  World — Broadway,"  by  Stephen  Jenkins. 
1912  Report,  Am.  Scenic  and  Historic  Preservation  Soc,  pp.  128,  130. 

Baffle  of  Harlem  Heights. 

"  Battle  of  Harlem  Heights,"  by  Shcpard  in  "  Historic  New  Y^ork." 
Vol.  n. 

"The  Battle  of  Harlem  Heights,"  by  Johnston. 
"  The  Campaign  of  1776,"  by  Johnston. 

"  Field  Book  of  the  Revolution,"  Vol.  H.,  p.  816,  by  Lossing. 

"  History  of  Attavcks  on  New  York,"  by  Stedman. 

"  Memorial  History  of  New  York,"  Vol.  H,  by  Wilson. 

"  History  of  New  York,"  Chap.  VH,  by  Stone. 

** Transactions  of  the  Long  Island  Historical  Society,"  Vol.  III. 

"Nathan  Hale,"  by  Prof.  H.  P.  Johnston. 

N.  B. — *  refers  to  Addenda,  1912,  on  pages  138,  139. 


105 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


ROUTE  14. 

SECTION  I.— UNION    SQUARE  TO    GRAMERCY  PARK. 
(For  Sections  I,  II  and  III,  figures  refer  to  Plate  XXI.) 

General  Viele's  Map  in  Wilson's  Memorial  History,  Vol.  IV,  and 
the  Commissioners  Map  of  1807  are  useful  in  showing  early  houses, 
lanes  and  roads. 

Take  Subway  to  Fourteenth  Street. 

I.  Union  Square,  designated  as  Union  Place  by  the  Commissioners  of  the 
City  Plan,  who  in  1807-11  laid  out  Manhattan  on  the  "checker-board  system." 
Because  of  the  intersection  of  the  Bowery  and  Broadway,  this  was  left  an 
open  square,  but  not  formally  laid  out  until  1832,  when  Samuel  B.  Ruggles 
was  instrumental  in  planning  the  park  of  three  and  one-half  acres.  Lower 
Broadway  was  made  to  bend  at  Tenth  Street  to  avoid  the  demolition  of  the 
Brevoort  homestead  and  it  connected  with  the  Road  to  Bloomingdale,  which 
ran  diagonally  across  the  Square  from  Bowery,  or  New  York  Lane, 

Hendrick  Brevoort's  farm  was  bounded  as  follows:  the  southwest  corner 
began  at  the  niiddie  of  Fifth  Avenue,  between  Eighth  and  Ninth  Streets,  ran 
north  along  Minetta  Water,  which  was  the  westerly  boundary,  to  a  point  about 
fifty  feet  north  of  Twelfth  Street;  thence  east  in  a  straight  line  to  the  west 
side  of  Fourth  Avenue  in  Fourteenth  Street,  thence  south  along  the  west  side 
of  Fourth  Avenue  to  a  point  about  seventy-five  feet  north  of  Tenth  Street, 
and  thence  west  in  a  straight  line  to  the  point  of  beginning.  Because  of  the 
opposition  of  Brevoort,  who  wished  to  save  a  favorite  tree,  Eleventh  Street 
was   not  cut  through  between   Broadway  and   Fourth  Avenue. 

The  Minto  Estate,  once  owned  by  Lieutenant-Governor  Elliott,  then  by 
Baron  Poelnitz,  and  later  part  of  the  Randall  Farm,  lay  south.  The  ground 
rents  from  this  property  to-day  support  the  Sailors'  Snug  Harbor  on  Staten 
Island. 

The  Spingler  Estate,  bought  from  Elias  Brevoort  in  1788,  adjoined  the 
Brevoort  Farm  on  the  north  and  was  bounded  as  follows:  the  west  line  was 
Minetta  Water,  the  east  line  Fourth  Avenue  and  a  prolongation  of  Blooming- 
dale  Road,  the  north  line  ran  from  a  point  now  in  Union  Square  at  a  point 
about  eciuidistant  between  Fifteenth  and  Sixteenth  Streets  in  a  straight  line 
to  a  point  about  fifty  feet  north  of  the  north  side  of  Fourteenth  Street  and 
two  hundred  feet  east  of  the  easterly  side  of  Sixth  Avenue,  and  the  south  line 
bordered  on  the  Brevoort  F^arm. 

The  large  fountain  in  the  center  of  Union  Square  dates  from 
1842  when  Croton  water  was  introduced  into  the  city.  The  small 
fountain  facing  Broadway  at  Sixteenth  Street  was  donated  to  the 
city  by  D.  Willis  James  and  erected  in  1881.  It  was  designed  by 
Adolf  Donndorf  of  Stuttgart  and  founded  in  bronze  in  Brunswick, 
Germany. 

The  bronze  eqciestrian  statue  of  Washington,  copied  from  Hou- 
don,  was  erected  by  city  merchants  at  the  spot  where  Washington 
was  received  by  the  citizens  on  Evacuation  Day,  November  25, 
1783,  and  was  dedicated  July  4,  1856.  This  is  the  oldest  public 
statue  in  the  city  which  stands  in  its  original  place,  and  was  the 
work  of  Henry  K.  Brown. 

106 


Union  Square  MANHATTAN 


14  Route 


Near  the  statue  there  was  held  in  1861  a  great  war  niectin<^  in 
response  to  Lincohi's  call  for  troops.  Facing  it  is  the  statue  of 
Lafayette,  modelled  by  Bartholdi  and  presented  in  1876  to  the 
city  by  French  residents  as  a  token  of  gratitude  for  American 
sympathy  in  the  Franco-Prussian  War. 

At  the.  southwest  corner  of  the  Square  see  the  bronze  statue  of 
Lincoln,  by  H.  K.  Brown,  erected  by  popular  subscription  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Union  League  Club  about  1866. 

Go  west  on  Sixteenth  Street 

2.  Home  of  William  Cullen  Bryant,  24  West  Sixteenth  Street. 
Pass  the  Church  and  College  (opened  in  1847)  of  St.  Francis 
Xavier. 

3.  Paisley  Place  or  Weavers'  Row,  a  double  row  of  rear 
wooden  houses  entered  by  alleys  at  115- 117  \W^st  Sixteenth  Street 
and  1 12- 1 14  West  Seventeenth  Street.  They  were  built  about  1822 
to  accommodate  Scotch  weavers  from  Paisley  who  fled  to  this  part 
of  the  city  to  escape  yellow  fever. 

Go  dozvn  Sixth  Avenue  and  zvest  on  Fourteenth  Street. 

4.  Cruger  Mansion,  126-130  West  Fourteenth  Street,  between 
Sixth  and  Seventh  Avenues,  once  the  home  of  the  Metropolitan 
Museum  of  Art.  In  the  Metropolitan  Temple  at  Fourteenth 
Street  and  Seventh  avenue  are  Memorial  windows  to  ex-Presi.- 
dents  McKinley  and  Roosevelt.*  i 

Go  east  on  Fourteenth  Street. 

5.  The  Van  Beuren  House,  21  West  Fourteenth  Street  (built 
about  1855),  one  of  the  last  private  residences  on  this  block  and  the 
second  homestead  of  the  Spingler  Estate.  This  family  is  distinct 
from  that  to  which  President  Van  Buren  belonged. 

Go  down  Fifth  Avenue  and  west  on  Thirteenth  Street. 
At  36  West  Thirteenth  Street  (Steeple  Building)  and  43-45  West 
Twelfth  Street,  see  in  the  oblique  walls  of  the  buildings  traces  of  the 
old  Un  ion  Road  which  originally  connected  Skinner  Road  (the  con- 
tinuation of  Christopher  Street)  with  the  Southampton  Road  at 
Fifteenth  Street  and  Seventh  Avenue  (Section  III,  A).  Note  the 
lines  of  these  roads  and  of  Minetta  Brook  on  Plate  XXI. 

6.  60  West  Thirteenth  Street  (occupied  1897-1905  by  the  De- 
Witt  Clinton  High  School),  famous  as  the  old  Thirteenth  Street 
School,"  once  under  the  principalship  of  Dr.  Hunter  (^founder  of  the 
Normal  College)  whose  graduates  have  formed  the  Hiomas  Hunter 
Association. 

107 


Route  14 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Union 


Go  down  to  Sixth  Avenue, 

7.  Milligan  Place  (old  Milligan's  Lane),  west  side  of  Sixth 
Avenue,  between  Tenth  and  Eleventh  Streets,  once  connected  Amos 
(West  Tenth)  Street  with  the  Union  Road.  Note  the  slant  of  the 
building  on  the  north  side  marking  the  original  direction  of  the 
Lane. 

Go  west  on  Eleventh  Street. 

8.  The  "Grapevine"  (Sixth  Avenue  and  West  Eleventh  Street) 
was  once  a  popular  roadhouse  on  the  old  Union  Road. 

9.  The  second  "Beth  Haim  "  (House  of  Rest),  a  Jewish  Ceme- 
tery, was  established  here  1804-5  (the  early  cemetery  being  still 
visible  at  Oliver  Street  and  New  Bowery.  (Excursion  III:i8.)  It 
was  used  as  a  burial  place  for  strangers,  but  became  the  regular 
cemetery  of  the  congregation  in  1882.  Li  1829,  Eleventh  Street  east 
of  Sixth  Avenue  was  opened  by  the  City  Commissioners,  encroaching 
largely  on  the  cemetery,  whereupon  a  third  site  was  purchased  in 
1830  at  the  southwest  corner  of  Sixth  Avenue  and  Twenty-first 
Street  (Section  II 131). 

At  33  West  Eleventh  Street,  note  the  building  in  the  rear  (cistern 
and  chimney),  which  was  near  the  line  of  the  Union  Road. 

Go  north  on  Fifth  Avenue. 

10.  The  Old  First  Presbyterian  Church,  Fifth  Avenue,  between 
Eleventh  and  Twelfth  Streets,  successor  to  the  early  church  on 
Wall  Street  founded  in  1719.    See  tablet  (Excursion  VII :2o). 

Go  east  on  Thiiteenth  Street  to  University  Place,  then  east  on  West 
Twelfth  Street. 

11.  Tablet,  southeast  corner  of  Thirteenth  Street  and  Univer- 
sity Place,  erected  in  1908  by  the  officers  and  veterans  of  the  Ninth 
Regiment,  National  Guard,  State  of  New  York,  organized  in  1799, 
acting  as  the  Eighty-third  New  York  Volunteers  in  the  Civil  War. 
From  their  headquarters,  site  marked  by  the  tablet,  "  they  marched 
away  850  strong,  May  27,  1861.  They  returned  home  June  11,  1864, 
with  17  officers  and  78  enlisted  men  after  having  gone  through  24 
battles." 


108 


Square 


MANHATTAN 


14  Route 


12.  New  York  Society  Library  at  109  University  Place,  the 
oldest  public  library  in  America,  established  in  1700  in  the  English 
City  Hall  by  Governor  Bellomont,  incorporated  in  1754  as  the  City 
Library  and  chartered  by  George  III  in  1772  as  the  New  York 
Society  Library.  The  present  building  was  erected  in  1856.  See  within 
many  rare  prints  of  old  New  York;  complete  files  of  local  news- 
papers, all  the  well-known  histories,  guide  books,  directories,  etc.,  of 
New  York. 

13.  Old  Twelfth  Street  School,  once  under  the  principalship  of 
Lydia  Wadleigh  who  did  so  much  to  promote  free  education  for 
girls. 

Go  down  Broadway  to 

14.  Grace  Churchyard.  See  the  sun  dial,  doliola  and  marble 
seat.  The  doliola,  made  to  hold  grain,  was  found  while  digging  for 
the  foundation  of  St.  Paul's  on  the  Via  Nationale  in  Rome,  and  was 
presented  by  the  late  Dr.  Nevin  of  that  church.  Two  like  it  re- 
main in  St.  Paul's  Church  garden.  Grace  Church  originally  stood 
at  Broadway  and  Rector  Street.  (Excursion  VII :i9).  The  present 
building  was  erected  in  1845. 

Go  east  on  Tenth  Street  to  Fourth  Avenue,  north  to  Fourteenth 

and  then  east. 

15.  The  Academy  of  Music,  corner  of  Irving  Place,  the  first 
building  erected  in  1854,  rebuilt  1868,  the  home  of  opera  in  New 
York  until  1883. 

16.  Tammany  Hall,  fourth  building  of  the  Tammany  Society, 
Columbian  Order,  established  in  1786.  See  on  the  front  Tammany 
Society,  1789-1867"  and  the  figure  of  St.  Tammany,  the  Indian 
Chief.  Within  the  building  may  be  seen  some  valuable  historical 
paintings  and  prints.  The  "  Wigwam on  the  top  floor  contains  the 
emblems  of  the  Society. 

Go  north  on  Irving  Plaee. 

17.  House  of  Washington  Irving,  southw^est  corner  of  Seven* 
teenth  Street,  opposUe  the  new  Washington  Irving  High  School.*2 

Go  east  on  Eighteenth  Street. 

18.  Bayard  Taylor's  Home,  "  the  Stuyvesant,"  142  East  Eigh- 
teenth Street,  one  of  the  oldest  apartment  houses  in  New  York; 
built  in  1869  on  the  French  model  by  Rutherford  Stuyvesant  whose 
family  still  owns  it. 


109 


Route  14 


HISTORICAL    GUIDE       Gramercy  Park 


Go  north  on  Irving  Place  to 

19.  Gramercy  Park.  Innes  saj^s  that  the  name  was  derived 
from  "  Krom.  merssche  "  or  "  Krom  moerasje  "  (crooked  little  swamp), 
formed  by  the  shape  of  Cedar  Creek  which  flowed  from  Madison 
Square  and  emptied  into  the  East  River  at  Eighteenth  Street.  In 
1780  Gramercy  Seat  was  the  20-acre  farm  of  James  Duane  (Ma3^or 
1783-88),  and  later  became  the  property  of  Samuel  B.  Ruggles,  who 
in  December,  1831,  set  apart  to  trustees  42  lots  for  the  creation  of 
Gramercy  Park.  According  to  the  deed,  they  were  to  surround  the 
plot  with  an  iron  railing  with  ornamental  gates,  and  by  January  i, 
1834,  to  lay  out  the  grounds  and  plant  trees.  The  tenants  occupying 
the  66  lots  bounding  it  were  to  have  the  right  of  access  thereto  as 
a  place  of  common  resort  and  recreation,  providing  each  contributed 
ten  dollars  per  year  for  its  maintenance.  The  work  was  completed 
in  1840.    See  tablet  set  in  the  sidewalk  near  the  west  gate. 

20.  The  Samuel  J.  Tilden  House  (now  the  National  Arts  Club) 
is  at  14-15  Gramercy  Park  South.  It  is  noted  for  its  sculptured 
front.  See  the  medallion  heads  of  Shakespeare,  Milton,  Dante, 
Goethe  and  Franklin. 

Go  west  on  Twentieth  Street,  passing  the 

21.  Home  of  the  Cary  Sisters  at  53  East  Twentieth  Street  and 

22.  Tlie  birthplace  of  Theodore  RooseveU,  28  East  Twentieth 
Street. 

23.  Horace  Greeley  lived  at  35  East  Nineteenth  Street.*3 

In  the  Players  Clubhouse,  16  Gramercy  Park  South,  is  a  collection 
of  old  theatre  programs,  etc. 


IJO 


MANHATTAN 


ROUTE  15. 

SECTION    IL— MADISON    SQUARE    AND  VICINITY. 

24.  Madison  Square  (6.84  acres)  was  originally  plannccl  and  used  as  a 
**  Parade  Ground  "  to  extend  from  Twenty-third  to  Thirty-fourth  Streets  and 
from  Third  to  Seventh  Avenues.  The  territory  it  covered  was  bounded  on  the 
west  by  the  Bloomingdale  Road  and  was  crossed  by  the  Old  Post  Road.  The 
double  ROW  of  trees  seen  from  the  fountain,  looking  north  to  Madison  Avenue, 
denotes  the  bed  of  the  Old  Post  Road  which  was  closed  Ajiril  27,  1844,  by 
resolution  of  the  Common  Council.  (See  Appendix — "The  City  Milestones  and 
the  Old  Post  Road.")  To  Mayor  Harper  (1844)  must  be  given  the  credit  for 
the  improvement  of  the  Square.  The  triangle  south  of  the  Post  Road,  a  part  of 
the  Common  Lands,  belonged  to  the  city;  that  part  thereof  to  Twenty-sixth 
Street  was.  purchased  in  1845,  largely  from  General  Theodorus  Bailey,  the  City 
Postmaster,  Such  part  as  the  city  owned  was  legally  opened  as  a  park  on  May. 
10,  1844.  Proceedings  to  acquire  title  to  that  part  not  purchased  of  General 
Bailey  were  confirmed  May  3,  1847,  at  a  total  cost  of  $65,952.  Fifth  Avenue, 
from  Twenty-third  to  Twenty-eighth  Streets,  was  ordered  filled  in  and  regu- 
lated in  March,  1845.  The  park  was  ordered  lighted  by  gas  in  1852  and  was 
limited  to  its  present  dimensions  by  Chapter  177  of  the  Laws  of  1837. 

The  Potter's  Field  was  in  Madison  Square  between  1794-7, 

See  the  statues  of  Wm,  H.  Seward,  by  Rogers,  1876;  Roscoe  Conk- 
ling,  by  J.  Q.  A.  Ward,  1893;  Admiral  Farragiit,  by  St.  Gaiidens, 
erected  in  1881  by  the  Farragut  Memorial  Association,  and  Chester  A. 
Arthur,  by  Bissell,  1899.  The  small  drinking  foimtain  was  given  by 
Miss  Catherine  Wolfe  and  the  large  one  by  Mrs.  O.  E.  P.  Stokes. 

25.  The  Worth  Monument  (of  Quincy  granite,  51  feet  high) 
by  James  C.  Batterson,  erected  in  1857  at  the  junction  of  Fifth 
Avenue,  Broadway  and  Tw^enty-fifth  Street  by  the  corporation  of  the 
city,  to  honor  Major-General  Worth,  who  distinguished  himself  in 
the  Mexican  War.  His  body  rests  beneath  the  monument.  See  the 
equestrian  figure  of  Worth  in  high  relief  on  the  south  face  of  the 
monument. 

The  United  States  Arsenal  stood  near  the  site  of  the  Worth  Monument  from 
1808  to  1824.  ^  The  deed  of  the  City  authorities  to  the  general  government  of 
land  for  the  site  of  the  arsenal,  or  magazine  (as  the  old  maps  have  it),  was 
dated  November  17,  1807.  The  possibility  of  the  War  of  1812  caused  its  con- 
struction as  a  defensive  measure.  The  United  States  conveyed  the  building  and 
its  rights  to  the  site  to  the  Society  for  the  Reformation  of  Tuvenile  Delin(|uents, 
July  21,  1824,  for  $6,000.  Two  wings  were  added  by  the  J^ociety,  one  for  each 
sex  and  the  remodeled  edifice  opened  January  i,  1825.  After  its  destruction  by 
fire  in  1839,  a  new  building  was  erected  at  Bellevue  in  October  of  the  following 
year,  and  the  inmates,  on  its  abandonment  in  1854,  were  removed  to  Randall's 
Island. 

Go  east  through  the  Square  to 

26.  Madison  Square  Garden,  opened  in  1890,  on  the  site  of  the^ 
old  Harlem  R.  R.  Station  and  later  the  site  of  a  Hippodrome  opened 
by  Barnum  in  1873.    It  was  first  called  by  its  present  name  on  May 
31,  1879. 

27.  The  Appellate  Court  House,  Twenty-fifth  Street  and  Madi- 
son Avenue,  James  Brown  Lord,  architect.  The  symbolic  mural 
paintings  in  the  main  entrance  and  the  Court  Room  are  by  well-known 
American  artists  and  of  special  interest. 

i  ii 


Route  15 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Madison 


Cross  Madison  Square  to  Twenty-Third  Street  and  Fifth  Avenue, 

28.  Site  of  the  Fifth  Avenue  Hotel.  The  farm  on  which  this  famous  hostelry 
stood  belonged  to  John  Horn,  whose  homestead  was  in  the  center  of  Fifth  Av- 
enue, just  south  of  Twenty-third  Street.  This  "House  of  John  Horn"  was 
designated  in  the  Law  of  1703  as  the  starting  point  of  the  Bloomingdale  Road.  It 
was  occupied  by  Christopher  Mildeberger  (who  married  Horn's  daughter)  when 
Fifth  Avenue  was  opened  in  1837.  On  petition,  the  Common  Council  granted 
that  it  should  remain  on  its  site  until  November,  1839.  After  its  removal  to  the 
site  of  the  Fifth  Avenue  Hotel  in  that  year,  it  was  a  tavern  kept  by  Thompson, 
known  as  the  Madison  Cottage."  Here  it  stood  until  1853  (i4  years)  when  it 
was  torn  down  to  make  way  for  Franconi's  Hippodrome  which  was  opened 
in  1853  and  occupied  the  entire  block  front.  The  hotel,  which  was  razed  in 
1908,  succeeded  this  building.  In  this  hotel  was  erected  in  1859  the  first  pas- 
senger elevator. 

Go  down  Fifth  Avenue  to  West  Twenty-first  Street,  passing 

29.  Tablet  at  5  West  Twenty-second  Street,  marking  the  site 

of  the  home  of  S.  F.  B.  Morse.*4 

The  Bnckhorn  Tavern  was  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Broadway  and  Twenty- 
second  Street. 

The  Union  House  stood  at  the  corner  of  Love  Lane  (Twenty-first  Street) 
and  Bloomingdale  Road.  On  its  second  floor  the  Civil  District  Court  was  held 
for  many  years.  This  building  was  the  residence  of  Jacob,  son  of  John  Horn, 
and  was  built  by  him. 

Go  west  on  T-iventy-Hrst  Street,  the  line  of  Abingdon  Road. 

30.  The  Home  of  Chester  A.  Arthur,  34  West  Twenty-first 
Street,  shortly  before      his  accession  to  the  presidency. 

31.  Beth  Haim,  the  third  Jewish  Cemetery,  best  seen  from 
the  staircase  at  the  rear  of  CNeill's  store,  at  the  corner  of  Twenty- 
first  Street  and  Sixth  Avenue.  A  cemetery  was  established  here  in 
1830  (Section  1:9). 

Go  north  on  Sixth  Avenue  to  Twenty-third  Street. 

32.  Bust  and  tablet  of  Edwin  Booth  at  70  West  Twenty-third 
Street,  marking  the  site  of  Booth's  Theatre. 

33.  Schermerhorn  Mansion,  40  West  Twentv-third  Street,  the 
last  private  residence  on  the  block.  When  erected,  the  population 
of  New  York  was  700,000 ;  stages  ran  on  Broadway ;  horse  cars 
were  in  common  use;  Harlem  trains  ran  to  White  and  Center  Streets 
and  Hudson  Rivtr  trains  to  Varick  and  Beach  Streets  {demolished  1911). 

Take  Twenty-third  Street  Cross  Town  car  east,  passing 

34.  College  of  the  City  of  New  York,  established  at  the  corner  of  Twenty- 
third  Street  and  Lexington  Avenue  in  1848-9.  It  was  then  known  as  the  Free 
Academy,  but  in  18^6  received  its  charter  as  a  college.  The  new  buildings  on 
West  One-hundred   and   Thirty-eighth   Street   were   formally  opened   in  1008. 

35.  Site  of  Bull's  Head  Tavern,  northwest  corner  of  Third  Avenue  and 
Twenty-fourth  Street,  the  third  of  the  name  (See  Excursion  I:  19  and  III:  16), 
built  about  1826  by  Thomas  Swift  and  owned  for  years  by  *'  Uncle  Dan'l  " 
Drew  of  steamboat  fame.  It  was  the  headciuarters  of  the  drovers  and  butchers 
of  New  York  until  1848  when  the  cattle  market  was  moved  to  Forty-second 
Street.  The  region  between  Twenty-third  and  Twenty-seventh  Streets,  Second 
and  Fourth  Avenues  was  known  as  the  Bull's  Head  Village  and  was  part  of 
the  old  Rose  Hill  Farm, 

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MANHATTAN 


15  Route 


36.  Gate  and  wall  of  tlie  old  House  of  Refuge  at  the  entrance 
to  a  storage  yard  on  the  north  side  of  Twenty-third  Street,  between 
First  Avenue  and  Avenue  A,  to  which  site  the  institution  was  re- 
moved in  1839. 

Go  north  on  Avenue  A  and  through  the  grounds  of  the  Department 
of  Charities  to  Twenty-sixth  Street. 

37.  Bellevue  Hospital,  on  what  was  the  Belle  Vue  Farm. 
The  City  hospital  was  moved  here  in  1810  from  the  neighbor- 
hood of  City  Hall  Park,  together  with  the  penitentiary  and  alms- 
house, the  last  two  being  later  removed  to  Blackwell's  Island. 
The  first  ambulance  service  in  the  world  was  inaugurated  in  i860 
by  this  hospital.  See  on  the  portico  at  the  entrance  to  the  main 
building  a  bit  of  peculiarly  wrought  iron  railing,  beneath  which  is 
a  tablet  stating  that  this  formed  part  of  the  balcony  of  Federal 
Hall  where  Washington  delivered  his  first  Inaugural  Address. 
Another  portion  of  the  railing  is  in  the  New  York  Historical 
Society  Building.  (Excursion  VII :2i).  The  main  or  gray  stone 
building  was  the  original  Bellevue  Hospital,  the  corner  stone  of 
which  was  laid  in  1812. 

JValk  west  on  Twenty-seventh  Street 

38.  The  Peter  Cooper  House,  moved  in  1820  from  the  site  of  the  Bible 
House  to  Twenty-eighth  Street  and   Fourth  Avenue,  remained  here  until  igo'p. 

39.  The  Churjirh  du  St.  Esprit  (45  East  Twenty-seventh  Street), 
the  successor  to  the  original  Huguenot  Church,  built  in  1688  in 
Petticoat  Lane.  (Excursion  VII  :i3  and  1:28).  See  tablet  in  the 
vestibule,  erected  in  1902  by  the  Huguenot  Society  of  America. 

Go  north  on  Fifth  Avenue  to  Tzventy-ninth  Street. 

40.  Church  of  the  Transfiguration  (5  East  Twenty-ninth 
Street),  often  called  ''The  Little  Church  Around  the  Corner," 
from  the  remark  of  the  curate  of  a  near  by  church  w^ho,  on  being 
asked  to  officiate  at  the  funeral  of  Holland,  the  actor,  refused^ 
adding  that  '*  perhaps  the  rector  of  the  little  church  around  the 
corner  might  be  willing  to  serve."  The  church  was  opened  in 
1856.  From  it  have  been  buried  Wallack,  Booth  and  Boucicault. 
See  the  Lich  Gate  and  memorial  window  to  Edwin  Booth. 


113 


Route  15 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


41.  Marble  Collegiate  Reformed  Church,  Twenty-ninth  Street 
and  Fifth  Avenue,  dedicated  in  1854.  See  tablet  commemorating 
its  succession  to  the  Church  in  the  Fort  and,  in  the  yard,  the 
bell  which  originally  hung  in  the  North  Church.  (Section  IV: 
5  and  Excursion  1:37). 

Go  west  on   Twenty-ninth  Street  to  Sixth  Avenue  and  south  to 

42.  Mouquin*s  Restaurant,  located  on  the  old  Varian  Farm,  the 
homestead  of  which  family  stood  on  the  west  side  of  Bloomingdale 
Road,  near  the  corner  of  Twenty-sixth  Street  (just  north  of  it). 
In  the  homestead  were  born,  1793,  Isaac  Leggett  Varian,  Mayor 
1839-40,  and  his  brother  William.  The  latter  inherited  the  portion 
of  the  farm  on  which  the  building  on  Sixth  Avenue  is  located,  and 
he  built  and  lived  in  the  house.    It  was  known  for  years  as  the 

Knickerbocker  Cottage,*' the  Varians  being  a  Knickerbocker  family.*5 


114 


MANHATTAN 


ROUTE  i6. 

SECTION   III— LOVE   LANE   AND   CHELSEA  VILLAGE. 

Fourteenth  to  Twenty-fourth  Streets;  Sixth  to  Tenth  Avenues. 
A.    LQVE  LANE  AND  TRACES  OF  THE  OLD  ROADS. 

The  Abingdon  Road  (named  for  the  Earl  of  Abingdon,  son-in-law  of  Sir 
Peter  Warren),  or  "Love  Lane"  originally  followed  the  line  of  West  Twenty- 
first  Street  from  the  Bloomingdale  Road  to  a  point  east  of  Eighth  Avenue 
where  it  turned  slightly  northwest  to  Chelsea  (traces  at  318  and  342-346  West 
Twenty-first  Street  and  the  southwest  corner  of  Eighth  Avenue  and  Twenty-first 
Street).  It  was  met  just  east  of  Sixth  Avenue  by  the  Southampton  Road 
(traces  at  Paisley  Place,  Section  1:3):  east  of  Seventh  Avenue  by  the  War- 
ren Road  (traces  at  148  West  Nineteenth  Street  and  154  West  Seventeenth 
Street) ;  east  of  Eighth  Avenue  it  crossed  the  Fitzroy  Road  (running  from 
Fifteenth  to  Forty-second  Streets;  traces  remaining  at  254  West  Twentieth 
Street,  256  West  Eighteenth  Street  and  246-250-252  West  Seventeenth  Street); 
and  east  of  Ninth  Avenue  by  a  Fourth  road  (traces  at  339  West  Twenty-first 
Street,  346  and  368-370  West  Eighteenth  Street,  352-356  West  Seventeenth 
Street,  352-354  West  Sixteenth  Street,  367  West  Fifteenth  Street  and  112 
Ninth  Avenue). 

These  four  roads  connected  Love  Lane  with  the  Great  Kill  Road  which  fol- 
lowed the  line  of  Gansevoort  Street,  extended  to  Sixteenth  Street  ea^  of  Seventh 
Avenue  (traces  in  oblique  wall  of  St.  Joseph's  Home,  northwest  corner  of 
Fifteenth   Street  and   Seventh  Avenue). 

Quaint  houses,  some  with  oriel  windows  and  newel  posts,  many  of  them 
reached  through  allevways,  survive  on  Twentieth  Street  between  Eighth  and 
Ninth  Avenues,  on  Eighteenth  Street  between  Eighth  and  Ninth  Avenues  and 
Sixteenth  and  Seventeenth  Streets  between  Seventh  and  Eighth  Avenues;  also 
along  Seventh  and  Eighth  Avenues  between  Fifteenth  and  Twenty-third  Streets. 

B.  CHELSEA. 

Chelsea  is  the  name  applied  to  that  part  of  the  city  between  Eighth  Av- 
enue, the  Hudson,  Nineteenth  and  Twenty-fourth  Streets,  and  was  so  called  fdr 
the  homestead  of  Captain  Clarke,  a  veteran  of  the  French  and  Indian  Wars. 
His  house,  (43  in  map)  named  for  the  Soldiers'  Home  near  London,  was 
built  in  1750,  about  200  feet  west  of  the  present  Ninth  Avenue  between 
Twenty-second  and  Twenty-third  Streets,  the  grounds  running  down  to  the 
river  which  then  came  nearly  to  Tenth  Avenue.  It  was  rebuilt  by  ^Mistress 
Molly  Clarke,"  who  lived  here  until  1802.  Her  daughter  married  Bishop 
Moore,  whose  son,  Clement  C.  Moore,  lived  here  until  1850.  Here,  in  1822,  he 
wrote  the  familiar  poem  "  A  Visit  from   St,  Nicholas," 

'*  'Twas  the  night  before  Christmas,"  etc. 
Through  his   agency   streets  were  opened   through   this   property   in    1823.  The 
old  house  was  torn  down  in  1852-3  when  the  bluffs  along  the  river  shore  were 
leveled  and  the  shore  line  extended  west. 

The  whole  shore  line  is  being  improved,  entire  blocks  of  buildings  having  been 
demolished  to  make  way  for  modern  warehouses  and  the  new  streets  which  are 
being  constructed  along  the  river  front. 

Tablet  on  Red  Star  Dock  at  Twentv-second  Street  and  Twelfth 
Avenue  marks  the  "  Chelsea  Improvement/*  a  great  system  of  new 
docks  not  yet  completed  and  meant  to  accommodate  the  largest 
merchant  vessels  afloat. 

Take  Ninth  Avenue  Elevated  R.  R.  to  Twenty-third  Street  or  Twenty- 
third  Street  car  to  Ninth  Avenue. 

43.  Site  of  Chelsea,  original  homestead  of  Captain  Clarke  and  Clement  C. 
Moore  (see  above). 


Route  i6 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Chelsea 


44.  London  Terrace,  the  familiar  row  of  tall  pilastered  houses 
with  deep  front  yards  on  Twenty-third  Street  between  Ninth  and 
Tenth  Avenues,  erected  in  1845  by  Wm.  Torrey  when  this  was  a 
fashionable  residence  quarter. 

At  436  West  Twenty-second  Street  is  the  old  mansion  once  the 
home  of  Edwin  Forrest  and  little  altered  since  his  time. 

45.  Chelsea  Cottages,  a  row  of  small  houses  with  little  front 
yards  on  West  Twenty-fourth  Street  between  Ninth  and  Tenth 
Avenues,  built  1845. 

Go  down  Ninth  Avenue  to 

46.  '  Chelsea  Square,  the  block  between  Twentieth  and  Twenty- 
first  Streets  and  Ninth  and  Tenth  Avenues,  on  which  are  the 
buildings  of  the  General  Theological  Seminary.  The  land  was 
given  by  C.  C.  Moore  and  the  West  Building  (still  standing)  was 
erected  in  1835.  The  Square  with  its  green  lawns,  quadrangles 
and  ivy  covered  buildings,  the  library,  chapel  and  refectory,  is 
well  worth  a  visit. 

47.  St.  Peter's  Church,  on  Twentieth  Street,  east  of  Ninth 
Avenue,  was  built  in  1836-8  on  land  given  by  C.  C.  Moore.  See 
wnthin  tablets  to  Moore  and  Dr.  Hugh  Smith.  The  rectory,  just 
west,  was  the  original  St.  Peter's  Chapel. 

48.  114  Ninth  Avenue,  between  Seventeenth  and  Eighteenth 
Streets,  an  old  house  with  outside  stairs  and  gambrel  window 
reached  through  a  rear  alley  which  originally  faced  a  road  used  as  a 
short  cut  from  Greenwich  Village  to  Chelsea.  See  also  the  old 
house  at  112  Ninth  Avenue. 

49.  Old  Ho'-ise  at  346  West  Sixteenth  Street,  with  gambrel 
roof  and  outside  stairs. 

Many  other  old  houses  may  be  seen  between  Ninth  and  Seventh 
Avenues  along  Twentieth  to  Fifteenth  Streets  (see  A  above). 


116 


MANHATTAN 


ROUTE  17. 

SECTION   IV.— :MURRAY   hill  TO  CENTRAL  PARK. 
(Figures  refer  to  Plate  XXII.) 
Take  Subzcay  or  Madison  Avenue  car  to  Thirty-third  Street;  go  up 
the  steps  to  Thirty-fourth  Street. 

MuRR-AY  Hill  is  the  height  between  Thirty-fourth  and  Forty-second  Streets, 
Third  Avenue  and  Broadway,  and  was  named  for  Robert  Murray,  a  Tory  whose 
wife,  Slary  Lindley.  by  a  clever  stratagem  delayed  Howe  (September  15,  1776) 
in  his  pursuit  of  Washington.  The  cornfield  where  Washington  tried  to  rally 
the  American  troops  was  on  the  Murray  farm,  somewhere  between  the  sites  of 
the  Grand  Central  Station  and  Bryant"  Park.  The  Murray  estate  was  called 
Incleberg,  and  extended  between  Thirty-third  and  Thirty-seventh  Streets,  from' 
the  Boston  to  the  Bloomingdale  Road. 

The  Park  Avenue  Tunnel  was  built  under  Murray  Hill  in  1837  to  accom- 
modate the  first  horsecar  line  in  the  world,  running  from  Harlem  to  Chambers 
Street.  Later  it  was  used  by  the  Harlem  Railroad,  the  terminal  being  at 
White  and  Centre  Streets. 

Go  Up  Park  Avenue  to 

1.  Tablet,  erected  by  the  Knickerbocker  Chapter  of  the  Daugh- 
ters of  the  American  Revolution,  to  mark  the  site  of  the  Mur- 
ray House,  on  a  boulder  in  a  park  space  at  Thirty-seventh  Street 
and  Park  Avenue,  where  the  house  stood  until  1834. 

Go  west  cn  Thirty-seventh  Street  to 

2.  Brick  Presbyterian  Church,  at  the  corner  of  Fifth  Avenue, 
organized  in  1767,  the  original  building  in  Park  Row  (Excursion  I: 
14).  See  in  the  lecture  room  (open  all  day)  interesting  collection  of 
historical  portraits  and  relics  of  the  old  church. 

Go  up  Fifth  Avenue  to  Fortieth  Street  and  then  zvest,  passing 

3.  Nev^  York  Public  Library,  erected  1902-10  on  the  Astor- 
Lenox-Tilden  foundation. 

4.  Bryant  Park  (so  called  in  1884,  but  originally  known  as 
Reservoir  Square)  was  bought  by  the  city  in  1822  and  used  as  a 
Potter's  Field  until,  in  1842,  it  became  the  site  of  the  first  dis- 
tributing reservoir  of  the  Croton  Aqueduct,  now  torn  down  to  make 
way  for  the  Library.  See  portions  of  the  reservoir  walls.  In  the 
western  part  of  the  Park  stood  the  Crystal  Palace,  where  the  first 
World's  Fair  in  America  was  held  in  1853.  In  1858  an  ovation  was^ 
given  here  to  Cyrus  W.  Field,  on  the  completion  of  the  Atlantic  Cable 
and  soon  after  the  building  was  destroyed  by  fire. 

Go  through  the  Park  to  Forty-second  Street,  passing 
The  colossal  bust  of  Washington  Irving  (unveiled   1866)  op- 
posite the  Fortieth  Street  entrance  and  the  statue  of  Dr.  J.  Marion 
Sims,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Park.*6 

Go  north  0)i  Fifth  Avenue. 
117 


Murray  Hill 


MANHATTAN 


17  Route 


5.  The  Collegiate  Dutch  Reformed  Church,  at  Forty-eighth 
Street.  Note  the  tablet  to  commemorate  its  connection  with  the 
"  Church  in  the  Fort.'*  Within  may  be  seen  a  tablet  erected  by 
the  Daughters  of  the  Revolution,  State  of  New  York,  to  honor 
the  soldiers  and  sailors  of  the  Revolution.  In  the  lecture  room  is 
an  interesting  collection  of  historical  pictures  and  books,  includ- 
ing the  portraits  in  oil  of  its  ministers  since  1699.  The  bell 
which  hangs  in  the  steeple  was  cast  in  Amsterdam  in  1728.  It 
was  bequeathed  by  Abraham  De  Peyster,  whilom  mayor  of  the 
city,  a  son  of  Johannes,  the  founder  of  the  family  in  America, 
to  the  Middle  Dutch  Church  on  Nassau  Street,  between  Cedar 
and  Liberty  Streets.  (Excursion  1:27).  When  the  edifice  was 
used  as  a  City  Post  Office,  the  bell  was  removed  to  the  church 
at  Ninth  Street  near  Broadway,  thence  to  the  church  on  Lafayette 
Place  and  later  to  its  present  location. 

6.  St.  Patrick's  Cathedral,  projected  by  Archbishop  Hughes  in 
1850  and  costing  $2,500,000.  See  within  the  vestibule  at  the  south 
end  a  framed  account  of  the  title  of  the  property,  acquired  by  the 
trustees  of  St.  Patrick's  in  1852  for  $59,500. 

Go  east  on  Fiftieth  Street. 

7.  Tablet  on  the  east  side  of  Madison  Avenue,  betw^een  Forty- 
ninth  and  Fiftieth  Streets,  marking  the  site  of  Columbia  College 
which  was  moved  here  from  College  Place  in  1857  (Excursion  I, 
21).  The  Elgin  Botanical  Garden,  founded  in  1801  by  Dr.  Hosack, 
Professor  of  Botany  in  Columbia,  occupied  the  blocks  between 
Forty-seventh  and  Fifty-first  Streets  and  west  nearly  to  Sixth  Avenue, 
on  land  given  Columbia  by  the  State,  to  make  good  the  claims  of 
the  college  to  a  New  Hampshire  township.  Two  English  yews  once 
in  the  garden  were  transplanted  to  the  new  site  at  Morningside 
Heights. 

Return  to  Fifth  Avenue  and  take  electric  bus  to  the  Metropolitan 
Museum  of  Art,  passing  the 

8.  Sherman  Statue  at  the  Plaza,  designed  by  St.  Gaudens  and 
erected   in    1904.     Three  blocks   west  on   Fifty-ninth   Street   is  the^ 

9.  Columbus  Column  at  the  Circle,  presented  to  the  city  by 
Italian  citizens  at  the  celebration  of  the  400th  anniversary  of  the 
discovery  of  America. 

Central  Park  was  planned  in  1851  and  laid  out  by  "the  Com- 
missioners of  Central  Park"  in  1859,  Frederick  Law  Olmstead 
and  Calvert  Vaux  executing  the  plans.  The  Park  contains  many 
statues  of  famous  men. 


119 


Route  17 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE  Central  Park 


Statues  in  and  near  Central  Park  (see  Appendix  B,  p.  377,  for  exact 
locations,  sculptor,  etc.)  :  West  Drive — Hamilton,  Mazzini,  Webster, 
Seventh  Regiment  soldier;  W^est  Eighty-first  Street  entrance — Bolivar; 
near  East  Seventy-second  Street  entrance — the  Pilgrim,  Morse  and 
R.  ^I.  Hunt;  the  i\Iall — Columbus;  another  of  Columbus  is  at 
McGown's  Pass  Tavern. 

Nat.  Maine  Monument,  at  the  Circle,  erected  1911-13,  in  commemora- 
tion of  the  loss  of  this  battleship  in  Havana  Harbor,  in  1898. 

In  the  Hotel  Netherland,  Fifth  Avenue  and  Fifty-ninth  Street,  ara 
the  paintings,  "The  Purchase  of  ^lanhattan"  and  "Stuyvesant  Receiving 
the  English  Terms  of  Surrender.'' 

The  Board  of  Education  Building,  Fifty-ninth  Street  and  Park 
Avenue,  contains  portraits  of  De  Witt  Clinton  and  former  members  of 
the  Board  of  Education. 

The  Volunteer  Firemen's  Association,  220  East  Fifty-ninth  Street, 
has  a  collection  of  old  fire  apparatus  and  pictures,  open  to  the  public. 

The  Arsenal,  in  the  Park,  near  East  Sixty-fourth  Street,  was  erected 
by  the  State  in  1848,  and  used  as  an  arsenal  until  1856,  and  again  during 
the  Civil  War,  when  troops  w^re  quartered  and  drilled  here.  It  became 
city  property  in  1856,  and  is  now  used  by  the  Park  Department. 

In  the  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art  (near  Eighty-first  Street), 
may  be  seen  a  fine  collection  of  historical  relics. 

Cleopatra's    Needle,   near   by,    was    presented   in    1877   by  the 
Khedive  of  Egypt,  the  expense  of  its   transportation   from  Alex- 
andria to  New  York  being  paid  by  William  H.  Vanderbilt. 

In  the  American  Museum  of  Natural  History  at  Seventy-seventh 
Street  and  Central  Park  west,  is  a  large  collection  of  Indian  relics 
excavated  at  Inwood,  the  Bronx,  Long  and  Staten  islands. 

N.  B.  For  historic  points  in  the  northern  part  of  Central  Park 
see  Excursion  IV,  Section  I.  ^ 

For  a  complete  account  of  Central  Park  see  "Central  Park  in  the 
City  of  New  York,"  by  E.  H.  Hall,  in  the  191 1  Report  of  the  American 
Scenic  and  Historic  Preservation  Society. 

The  New  York  Genealogical  and  Biographical  Society,  226  West 
Fifty-eighth  Street  has  a  large  collection  of  books  and  records  (see 
P-  .399). 

Tablet  in  the  West  Side  Branch,  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  318  West  Fifty-seventh 
Street,  commemorating  Washington  at  Valley  Forge. 

New  York  Historical  Society,  Central  Park  West,  between  Seventy- 
si^'th  and  Seventy-seventh  streets,  has  a  fine  collection  of  local  historical 
relics,  prints,  etc.,  in  addition  to  a  large  number  of  books,  manuscripts, 
paintings  and  ancient  relics  (see  p.  397). 

120 


MANHATTAN 


ROUTE  i8. 

SECTION   V— BLOOMINGDALE. 

(Figures  refer  to  Plate  XXIII  and  letters  to  Plate  XXII.) 

Sometime  after  the  settlement  of  the  Island  of  Manhattan,  the  middle  west 
section  received  the  name  Blocmendael  (vale  of  flowers)  from  the  Dutch  town 
of  that  name.  In  early  times  the  only  access  to  the  region  was  by  water  and 
by  a  few  farm  roads.  Later  it  was  bisected  by  the  Road  to  Bloomingdale 
which  ran  its  length  through  the  Bloomingdale  District^  the  name  given  it  by 
the  Law  of  1703  under  which  the  road  was  opened  from  Twenty-third  Street 
and  Broadway  to  One-hundred  and  F'ifteenth  Street  and  the  present  Riverside 
Drive.  This  road  in  a  large  measure  followed  the  line  of  present  Broadway. 
In  1795  it  was  extended  to  One-hundred  and  Forty-seventh  Street,  where  it 
was  merged  in  the  Kingsbridge  Road.  In  the  territory  which  it  traversed  were' 
a  number  of  hamlets,  cne  being  at  the  Great  Kill,  the  longest  and  deepest 
stream  which  indented  the  west  shore  of  the  island,  with  an  outlet  at  Forty- 
second  Street.  The  settlement  at  this  spot  extended  into"  the  fifties,  Harseni  ille 
was  located  in  the  seventies,  Striker's  Bay  in  the  nineties  and  Bloomingdale 
Village  centered  at  One  Hundredth  Street.  Each  of  these  was  a  distinct  lo- 
cality and  up  to  the  opening  of  the  Civil  War  had  yet  a  semblance  of  villac^e 
life.  In  Dutch  times,  the  entire  territory  from  Fourteenth  Street  to  Claremont 
was  known  as  Bloomingdale, — Greenwich  and  Chelsea  being  names  of  later 
English  derivation.  It  was  a  favorite  suburban  section.  Some  few  old  man- 
sions survive,  but  none  of  Revolutionary  date. 

Take  SubiK'Liy  to   limes  {Longacre)  Squarery 

In  1872  LoNGACRE  Square  became  the  New  York  center  of  the  carriage  in- 
dustry begun  by  Brewster  and  others  and  one  of  the  trade  journals  likened  it  to 
London's  Longacre  Street  in  uhich  the  carriage  trade  v.as  centred.  The  square 
having,  at  the  time,  no  name  the  city  authorities  gave  it  that  of  Longacre. 

A.  Tablet  over  doorway  at  1493- 1505  Broadway,  between 
Forty-third  and  Forty-fourth  Streets,  erected  in  1893  by  the  Sons 
of  the  Revolution  to  commemorate  the  meeting  of  Washington 
and  Putnam  on  September  15,  1776. 

B.  In  the  base.tnent  of  the  Hotel  Astor  may  be  seen  a  valuable 
collection  of  pictures  of  old  X'ew  York.  In  the  barroom  is  a 
painting  showing  the  house  of  Medcef  Eden,  an  Englishman  who 
owned  the  neighboring  property  originally,  and  died  of  yellow 
fever  in  one  of  the  early  epidemics. 

Take  Forty-second  Street-Tenth  Avenue  cars  to  Fifty-third  Street. 

C.  DeWitt   Clinton   Park,   between    Fifty-second   and  Fifty- 
fourth    Streets,    Eleventh    and    Twelfth    Avenues ;    note    the  play- 
grounds, pergola,  children's   farm  gardens  and  the  recreation  pier 
(foot  of  Fiftieth  Street).    The  site  was  part  of  a  farm  which  had  ^ 
remained  in  the  Hopper  family  for  200  years. 

In  the  center  of  Fifty-third  Street,  as  laid  out,  stood  the  mansion 
of  General  Garrit  Hopper  Striker  (Section  VI 14)  which  was  built 
in  1752  and  was  one  of  the  oldest  landmarks  in  the  city  when  torn 
down  in  1896.  The  Mott  Homestead  stood  at  Fifty-fourth  Street 
on  the  river  bank  from  1796  until  demolished  in  1897.  Both  these 
residences,  as  well  as  Striker's  and  Mott's  Lanes,  were  obliterated 
by  the  laying  out  of  the  Park. 

i2l 


Route  i8 


HISTORICAL    GUIDE       DeWitt  Clinton 


p 


Plate  XXIII.    Route  i8. 


][ 


C.  K. 


D.    In  the  DeWitt  Clinton  High  School  at  Fifty-ninth  Street 
and  Tenth  Avenue  are  two  large  mural  paintings  illustrating  scenes 
in  connection  with  the  completion  of  the  Erie  Canal. 
Take  Tenth  Avenue  car  to  Eighty-ninth  Street;  pass  en  route  the 

site  of 

T.  The  Someriyv''yke  House,  northwest  corner  of  Seventy-fifth  Street  and 
Eloomingdale  Road  (Broadway).  Here  Louis  Philippe  lived  and  taught  school 
during  his  exile.  It  was  occupied  by  Hessians  during  the  Revolution  and  razed 
in  1868. 

2.  The  Collegiate  School  at  241-243  West  Seventy-seventh 
Street,  a  direct  descendant  of  the  first  Dutch  school  (1633)  on  Stone 
Street  (Excursion  VII  :i2;  see  H.  W.  Dunshee's  history  of  the 
school). 

122 


Bloomingdale 


MANHATTAN 


1 8  Route 


3.  Van  den  Hcuzcl  Mansion,  torn  down  1905,  in  the  block  between  Broad- 
way and  West  End  Avenue,  Seventy-eighth  and  Seventy-ninth  Streets.  It  was 
built  about  1792  by  Corneiius  \'an  den  Heuvel,  the  Ciovernor  of  Deniarara,  and 
after  1839  was  used  as  a  tavern  and  known  as  liurnham's  Mansi'jn  House. 
Burnham's  original  tavern,  a  favorite  resort  for  driving  parties,  was  at  Seven- 
tieth Street  and  the  Road. 

4.  Poc  Cottage,  Eighty-fourth  Street,  on  the  east  side  of  Bloomingdale  Road. 
Here  Poe  and  his  wife  X'irginia  boarded  with  a  family  nam£d  Breiman  during 
the  summers  of  1843  and  1S44.  During  tliis  time  ha  wrote  "The  Raven'* 
which  first  appeared  in  print  in  the  New  York  Mirror  in  January,  1845. 

W^alk  west  on  Eighty-nintli  Street  to 

5.  The  Soldiers*  and  Sailors'  Monument,  erected  in  1900-2  by 
the  city  to  honor  the  heroes  of  the  Civil  War.  Note  view  of 
Palisades,  Ft.  Washington  Point,  etc. 

Go  north  on  Riverside  Drive. 

6.  The  site  of  Oak  Villa,  between  Ninetieth  and  Ninety-first  Streets,  west  of 
West  End  Avenue,  the  country  seat  of  Broclcholst  Livingston,  grandson  of 
Philip,  second  Lord  of  the  Manor  in  Columbia  County,  New  York.  He  was  a 
Colonel  of  the  Revolutionary  Army,  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  and  Associate 
Justice  on  the  Federal  Supreme  Bench.  He  died  in  1833  ^Tid  was  buried  in 
the  family  vault  in  the  yard  of  the  Wall  Street  Presbyterian  Church.  The 
massive  oaks  standing  in  the  Park  at  Ninety-first  Street  were  on  the  Living- 
ston property  and  gave  the  name  "  Oak  \'illa." 

7.  The  site  of  the  A^thorp  Mansion,  built  in  1764  by  Charles  Ward  Apthorp, 
a  member  of  His  Maiesty's  Council,  between  Ninety-first  and  Ninety-second 
Streets,  just  west  of  Columbus  Avenue.  It  was  the  headquarters  of  Generals 
Howe,  Clinton,  Carleton  and  Cornwallis  at  successive  stages  of  the  British 
occupation.  A  rich  English  merchant,  William  Jauncey,  (after  whom 
Jauncey  Court  in  Wall  Street  was  named),  bought  the  property  in  1799  and 
the  Cross  Road  to  Harlem,  afterward  Apthorp  Lane,  leading  to  the  house  was 
known  by  his  name  for  many  years,  and  is  so  carried  to  this  day  on  old  maps. 

8.  Site  of  the  Striker's  Bay  Mansion,  at  Ninety-sixth  Street,  on  hill  east  of 
viaduct.  An  old  elm  on  the  property  inspired  George  W.  Morris  in  1837  to 
write  "Woodman,  spare  that  tree."  As  a  result,  the  tree  was  spared  and 
in  1862  Morris  testified  that  it  was  still  standing.  The  mansion  occupied  the 
west  line  of  the  British  outposts  during  the  Battle  of  Harlem  Heights. 

Other  well-known  families  who  had  permanent  residences  or  country  seats  in 
Bloomingdale  were  the  Bayards,  Beekmans,  Bownes,  Leggetts,  Danas,  Have- 
meyers,  Howlands,  Lawrences,  Schuylers,  van  Nordens,  Rikers,  de  Peysters,  De 
Lanceys,  McVickars,  Strikers,  Hoppers,  Posts,  SchiefFelins,  Meiers,  Whitlocks, 
Weymans,  Webbers,  Cozines,  Dyckmans,  Harsens,  Cuttings,  Rogers,  Wilkes, 
Wells,  Clendinings,  Jumels  and  Motts. 

9.  St.  Michael's  Episcopal  Church  at  Ninety-ninth  Street  and 
Amsterdam  Avenue  stands  on  the  site  of  the  old  wooden  church, 
erected  in  1806.    ("  Annals  of  the  Parish."  by  Dr.  John  P.  Peters). 

10.  The  Furniss  House,  on  Riverside  Drive,  between  Ninety- 
ninth  and  One  Hundredth  Streets,  was  erected  by  William  P.  Furniss 
in  1843.    Just  north  of  it  was  the  (Furniss  House,  demolished  1912). 

11.  Humphrey  Jones  House,  on  the  river  bluff,  between  One  Hundred  and 
First  and  One  "Hundred  and  Second  Streets.  (See  Johnston's  *' History  of  the 
Battle  of  Harlem  Heights  "  and  Mott's  The  New  York  of  Yesterday  "),  In 
1798  Robert  T.  Kemble  bought  the  property  and  in  1811  it  was  acquired  by 
William  Rogers  and  was  known  for  years  as  the  **  Ann  Rogers  House."  It 
was  struck  by  lightning  and  burned  in  1859. 

Co  East  on  Ninety-ninth  Street  and  "^S  north  on  Broadway. 

12.  The  Bloomingdale  Dutch  Reformed  Church,  recently  com- 
pleted at  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Street  and  liroadway,  on  the 
site  of  Nicholas  Jones'  stone  house  near  which  began  and  ended 


Route  i8 


HISTORICAL    GUIDE  Weehawken 


the  Battle  of  Harlem  Heights.  The  church,  which  celebrated  its 
looth  anniversary  in  December,  1906,  was  incorporated  as  "The 
Church  at  Harsenville,''  and  was  founded  in  the  Dutch  mansion 
of  Jacob  Harsen,  at  Seventieth  Street  and  Amsterdam  Avenue,  near 
which  site  it  stood  for  a  century.  The  open  space  in  front  of 
its  present  location  was  named     Bloomingdale  Square "  in  1907. 


Notes,  1912:  The  name  ''Bloomingdale  Square"  was  changed  in  1912 
by  the  Board  of  Aldermen  to  "Straus  Square"  in  honor  of  Isidor  Straus, 
who  perished  on  the  Titanic. 

The  Firemen's  Memorial  Monument  was  erected  in  1912-13  on 
Riverside  Drive  and  One  Hundredth  Street  by  the  City  of  New  York. 

SIDE  TRIP  TO  THE  HAMILTON-BURR  DUELLING 
GROUND. 

By  Edward  Hagaman  Hall. 

Take  West  Forty-second  Street  ferry  to  Weehazvken.    Walk  to 

the  steam  railroad  track  and  then  south  along  the  shore  (5  or  10 
minutes)  to  a  little  point  of  land  projecting  into  the  river  and 
marked  by  a  scrubby  tree.  The  duelling  ground  (now  blasted  away) 
was  on  a  level  spot  near  the  shore  about  on  the  line  of  the  railroad 
track  at  this  point. 

To  see  the  bust  of  Hamilton  take  the  trolley  from  the  ferry 
to  the  top  of  the  bluff,  or  mount  the  stairs  and  walk  south  and 
then  east  of  the  fence  running  along  the  cliff.  See  inclosure  con- 
taining a  pedestal  and  bust  of  Hamilton  overlooking  the  scene  of 
the  encounter. 

An  inscribed  slab  of  the  original  monument  (placed  here  in  1806 
by  the  St.  Andrew's  Society  and  broken  because  it  seemed  to  en- 
courage duelling)  is  now  in  the  New  York  Historical  Society  building. 


MANHATTAN 


ROUTE  19. 

SECTION  VL— MORNINGSIDE  HEIGHTS  AND 
MANHATTANVILLE. 
One  Hundred  and  Tenth  Street  to  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-fifth 

Street. 

(Figures  refer  to  Plate  XXIV;  see  also  XXVI  and  XXX.) 
Take  Broadzvay  Snbzvay  to  Cathedral  Parkway;  see  to  the  east  the 

partially  completed  Cathedral  of  St.  John  the  Divine; 
walk  west  to  Riverside  Drive,  then  north  to  the 
T.  Carrigan  House.  The  original  Nicholas  de  Peyster  House 
stood  at  One  Hundred  and  Fourteenth  Street  and  Riverside  Drive 
and  was  the  terminus  of  the  Bloomingdale  Road  as  fixed  by  the 
Law  of  1703.  It  burned  down  in  1835.  The  property  was  sold  to 
Andrew  Carrigan,  President  of  the  Emigrant  Industrial  Savings 
Bank,  who  built  the  present  house.*9 

Go  east  on  One  hundred  and  Fourteenth  Street  and  north  on  Broad- 
way, passing 

Buildings  of  the  old  Bloomingdale  Asylum,  one  in  the  South  Field 
of  Columbia  University  and  another,  now  the  Columbia  Faculty 
Building,  northeast  corner  of  One  Hundred  and  Sixteenth  Street 
and  Broadway. 

2.  Tablet,  erected  by  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution,  on  the  En- 
gineering Building  (near  One  Hundred  and  Seventeenth  Street), 
Columbia  University,  marking  part  of  a  site  of  the  Battle  of 
Harlem  Heights,  September  16,  1776.  On  the  west  side  of  Broad- 
way, just  south  of  Barnard  College,  was  the  wheat  field  where 
the  main  action  was  fought. 

See  also  memorial  window  for  the  battle  placed  in  St.  Luke's 
Home  for  Aged  Women  at  One  Hundred  and  Fourteenth  Street 
and  Broadway  by  the  New  York  State  Society  of  the  Daughters 
of  the  Revolution. 

Go  east  on  One  Hundred  and  Sixteenth  Street, 

3.  Columbia  Library,  the  gift  of  Seth  Low.    See  inscription  on  % 
the  pediment  to  commemorate  the  foundation  of  King's  College, 
which  stood  at  College  Place  and  Murray  Street.    Within  may 
be  seen  the  iron  crown  formerly  in  King's  College  and  a  collec- 
tion of  early  diplomas  with  signatures  of  former  presidents. 

On  the  opposite  side  of  One  Hundred  and  Sixteenth  Street,  in 
the  quadrangle  formed  by  Hamilton  Hall  and  the  Hartley  Dor- 
mitory, see  the  statue  of  Hamilton  by  Ordway  Partridge.  *i4 

125 


Route  19 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Morningside 


Go  north  on  Amsterdam  Avenue. 


4.  Tablet  on  southeast  corner  of  Fayerweather  Hall  of  Col* 
umbia  University,  on  Amsterdam  Avenue,  facing  One  Hundred  and 
Seventeenth  Street,  erected  by  the  Empire  State  Society  Daughters 
of  18 12  on  February  22,  1900,  to  commemorate  New  York  City 
defences  during  the  War  of  1812.  Fort  Haight  "  mentioned  thereon 
should  read  Fort  Laight,"  being  so  named  in  honor  of  Edward  W. 
Laight,  Commander  of  the  Regiment  of  City  Infantry,  1814.  General 
Garrit  Hopper  Striker,  whose  name  is  inscribed  on  this  memorial, 
served  as  Captain  of  the  4th  Company,  5th  Regiment,  82nd  Brigade, 
which  regiment  was  the  last  employed  in  erecting  the  defences  on 
Bloomingdale  Heights.  The  original  plan  was  to  place  the  tablet 
on  Block  House  No.  i  in  Central  Park,  near  which  defence  Captain 
Striker's  command  was  stationed,  but  owing  to  the  isolated  position 
of  the  tower,  and  the  likelihood  of  the  memorial  being  hidden  from 
view  by  foliage,  the  offer  of  the  Trustees  of  Columbia  to  have  it 
affixed  to  Fayerweather  Hall  was  accepted. 

Pass  on  the  left  Teachers'  College. 

5.  Block  House  No.  3,  War  of  1812,  in  Morningside  Park,  at 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-third  Street,  marked  in  1904  b"  a  tablet 
erected  by  the  Women's  Auxiliary  to  the  American  Scenic  and  His- 
toric  Preservation  Society. 

The  little  height  just  south  formed  part  of  Fort  Horn,  named 
for  Major  Joseph  Horn,  under  whose  immediate  direction  the  works 
at  McGowns  Pass  were  erected  (Excursion  IV,  Section  I,  22,  25). 

6.  Point  of  Rocks  was  the  high  ground  at  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-sixth 
Street  and  Convent  Avenue,  and  the  site  of  the  most  advanced  southerly  Amer- 
ican military  c  itworks  on  Washington  Heights.  Another  redoubt  stood  on  the 
hill  now  at  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-fourth  Street,  between  Broadway  and  River- 
side Drive.  From  the  Point  of  Rocks  Washington  directed  and  watched  the 
Battle   of   Harlem    Heights.     The   rocks  have   been   blasted  away. 

Day's  Tai-ern,  where  Washington  stayed  on  his  advance  to  the  evacuation 
of  New  York  in  1783,  was  on  the  site  of  126th  Street,  200  feet  west  of 
Eighth  Avenue. 

Go  west  on  One  Hundred  and  Tzventy-seeond  Street,  passing,  on  the 
left,  the  nezv  buildings  of  Union  Theological  Seminary. 

7.  Grant's  Tomb;  designed  by  John  H.  Duncan;  corner-stone 
laid  by  President  Harrison,  1892,  completed  1897,  at  a  cost  of  $600,000, 
subscribed  chiefly  by  the  people  of  New  York  City;  within  are  the 
sarcophagi  of  General  U.  S.  Grant  and  his  wife.  The  interior  deco- 
ration is  by  J.  Massey  Rhind.    See  the  battle  flags  of  the  Civil  War 


126 


Heights 


MANHATTAN 


19  Route 


and  numerous  memorials.  It  is  controlled  by  the  Grant  Monument 
Association. 

North  of  the  tomb  are  trees  planted  by  Li  TTung  Chang  and  a 
tablet  to  commemorate  his  esteem  for  General  Grant.  Sou\enir 
History  to  be  obtained  from  the  custodian.'^  10 

Go  north  along  Riverside  Drive. 

8.  Tomb  of  "An  Amiable  Child"  (St.  Claire  Pollock,  baptized 
by  Bishop  IMoore,  November  11,  1792),  buried  here  in  1797.  It  is 
said  that  the  child  lost  its  life  by  falling  over  a  clifif  near  this  spot. 
In  1796-8  George  Pollock,  probably  the  uncle  of  the  child,  bought  this 
property,  then  known  as  "Strawberry  Hill"  or  "  Vandewatcr 
Heights,"  from  Nicholas  de  Peyster,  and  when  he  sold  part  of  it  to 
Cornelia  Verplanck,  he  reserved  the  burial  plot  which,  on  his  return 
to  Ireland  in  1800,  he  deeded  to  her  to  preserve. 

9.  The  Claremont,  owned  by  the  city  and  a  public  restaurant 
since  1872,  was  built  shortly  after  the  Revolution  by  Michael  Hogan, 
at  one  time  British  Consul  at  Havana,  and  named  after  the  royal 
residence  at  Surrey  of  Prince  William,  Duke  of  Clarence,  afterward 
King  William  IV,  with  whom  Hogan  had  served  as  fellow  midship- 
man in  the  Royal  Navy  and  who  visited  him  at  his  town  house  in 
Greenwich  Street  in  1782.  \'iscount  Courtenay,  afterward  Earl 
of  Devon,  occupied  the  house  and  from  it  in  1807  viewed  the  trial 
trip  of  Fulton's  steamship,  the  "Clermont."  In  1815  it  became  tho 
abode  of  Joseph'  Bonaparte.  The  Post  family  purchased  the  property 
in  1821.  ^ 

10.  View  of  the  Palisades  and  Fort  Washington  Point  from 
the  Viaduct  which  wis  built  to  extend  Riverside  Drive  to  Wash- 
ington Heights.  The  valley  between  was  known  in  Dutch  days  as 
"The  Clove  of  the  Kill,"  or  Matje  Daz'id's  Vly"  (the  Widow 
David's  Meadow).  During  the  Revolution  it  was  called  the  "  Hol- 
low Way."  The  settlement  in  the  valley  between  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-fifth  and  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-fifth  Streets  was  known 
as  Manhattanville.  A  rude  ferry  to  Fort  Lee  was  established  before 
the  Revolution.*! I 

Descend  to  Manhattan  Street  and  go  east  to  Subzcay. 


127 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


128 


MANHATTAN 


BATTLE   OF   HARLEM  HEIGHTS. 

By  Hopper  Striker  Mott. 

Tills,  the  only  contest  of  the  Revolution  within  the  limits  of  New  York  City 
that  resulted  in  a  victory  for  the  Americans,  had  a  greater  influence  on  the 
result  than  is  generally  acknowledged.  Washington's  army  had  been  disastrously 
worsted  on  Long  Island  and  was  in  flight  when  this  success  clinched  the  dogged 
determination  which  made  possible  the  brilliant  exploits  at  Trenton  and 
Princeton. 

The  Americans,  on  abandoning  Long  Island,  had  withdrawn  up  the  Island  of 
^Lmhattan,  time  for  the  retreat  being  gained  through  the  instrumentality  of 
Mary  Lindley  Murray  (Section  I\':i  and  introductory  note).  During  the  de- 
lay, Putnam  and  his  command,  in  their  straggling  retreat  along  the  Blooming- 
dale  Road,  had  passed  in  safety  to  within  a  mile  of  the  Morris  House  where 
Washington  had  his  headquarters.  When  the  British  realized  that  the  patriots 
had  joined  the  main  army,  they  encamped  that  night  along  the  New  Cross 
Road  (Apthorp  Lane),  Sir  Henry  Clinton  taking  possession  of  the  Apthorp 
Mansion,  and  threw  up  fortifications  just  north,  extending  across  the  island 
from  lloorn's  Hoek  to  Striker's  Bay.  Earl  Cornwallis  was  in  command  of  the 
Reserve,   while  other  generals  led  the   English,   Scotch   and  Hessians. 

The  first  line  of  works  thrown  up  by  the  Americans  was  located  about  One 
Hundred  and  Forty  Seventh  Street  (Excursion  I\',  Section  II:i)  and  the  hill 
as  far  south  as  *'  The  Hollow  Way,"  the  valley  through  which  Manhattan  Street 
now  passes,  was  occupied  by  them.  Generally,  these  were  the  positions  of  the 
two  forces  on  September  i6,  1776.  On  that  morning.  Colonel  Thomas  Knowlton. 
who  had  seen  service  at  Lexington,  Bunker  Hill  and  Long  Island,  was  directed 
by  Washington  to  make  a  reconnoissance  of  the  enemy's  position.  Moving 
southward  with  his  Connecticut  Rangers  along  the  westerly  side  near  the  Hud- 
son, they  were  screened  from  view  by  the  woods  covering  Hooglandt's  farm. 
It  was  not  until  they  reached  Nicholas  Jones'  farmhouse  about  sunrise  that 
the  British  pickets,  light  infantrymen,  were  encountered.  Evidently  stationed 
on  the  Bloomingdale  Road  at  about  One  Hundred  and  Fourth  Street,  their 
regiments  were  encamped  a  short  distance  to  the  south.  During  the  brisk  skir- 
mish which  now  took  place,  the  woods  along  the  dividing  line  between  the  Jones 
and  Ilooglandt  farms  echoed  the  sharp  firing  from  both  sides.  The  forces  were 
so  disproportioned  as  to  numbers,  ana  the  object  of  the  movement  had  been  so 
far  attained  that  Kt^owlton  ordered  a  retreat,  which  was  effected  without  con- 
fusion. He  had,  however,  ten  killed  in  action.  They  fell  back  along  the  line 
of  the  Road,  closely  pursued.  The  enemy  halted  at  the  elevation  known  as 
"  Claremont,"  from  which  point  they  could  catch  glimpses  of  General  Greene's 
troops  on  the  opposite  slopes. 

This  was  the  third  time  within  a  month  that  the  British  had  scattered  or  driven 
Washington's  men  with  ease,  and  it  only  remained  on  this  occasion  for  their 
bugler  to  sound  the  contemptuous  notes  of  the  hunt  across  the  Hollow  into  the 
American  lines.  To  quote  one  of  the  latter's  ofl[icers:  "The  enemy  appeared 
in  open  view  and  in  the  most  insulting  manner  sounded  their  bugle  horns  as 
is  usual  after  a  fox-chase;  I  never  felt  such  a  sensation  before — it  seemed  to 
crown  our  disgrace."  Washington  had  gone  down  to  the  advanced  position  and 
heard  the  firing.  He  was  urged  to  reinforce  the  Rangers,  but  was  not  im- 
mediately persuaded  of  the  advisability  of  forcing  the  fighting.  Eventually,  he 
determined  on  a  strategical  plan,  viz:  to  make  a  feint  in  front  of  the  hill  and 
induce  the  enemy  to  advance  into  the  Hollow,  and  second,  should  this  prove 
effective,  to  send  a  strong  detachment  circuitously  around  their  right  flank  tct% 
the  rear 'and  hem  them  in.  This  plan  succeeded  in  so  far  that  the  enemy,  see- 
ing the  advance,  promptly  accepted  battle,  **  ran  down  the  hill  and  took  posses- 
sion of  some  fences  and  bushes,"  from  which  vantage  a  smart  fire  was  begun, 
but  at  too  great  a  distance  to  do  much  execution.  The  flanking  party,  composed 
of  Knowlton's  Rangers,  now  back  at  the  lines,  was  reinforced  with  three 
companies  of  riflemen  from  the  Third  \'irginia  Regiment  under  Major  Andrew 
Leitch.  In  some  unlucky  manner  the  attack  was  premature  '*  as  it  was  rather 
in  flank  than  in  rear."  Both  the  brave  leaders  fell  in  tliis  engagement.  Knowl- 
ton living  but  an  hour,  Leitch  survived  until  October  2nd,  wiien  he  died  at  a 
little  blacksmith's  shop  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  present  One  Hundred  and 
Twentv-ninth  Street.  Nothing  daunted  by  the  loss  of  their  commanders,  the 
Rangers  and   Riflemen  pressed  on.     The   British,  who   had  been  inveigled  into 

129 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


the  Hollow  Way,  had  in  the  meantime  Deen  put  to  flight  by  the  Use  of  artillery, 
and  were  pursued  back  towards  their  camp  along  the  line  of  the  Road  to  a 
buckwheat  field  on  top  of  a  high  hill.  Heretofore  the  manoeuvring  had  taken 
place  largely  on  the  Hooglandt  farm;  the  main  action  was  then  transferred  to 
Van  de  Water's  Heights. 

The  general  limits  of  this  "  hot  contest  "  were  the  high  ground  extending 
from  Columbia  University  around  westward  and  northerly  to  Grant's  Tomb 
and  Claremont.  The  fighting  grew  into  a  pitched  battle,  lasting  from  noon 
until  about  two  o'clock.  Nearly.  1800  Americans  were  engaged,  composed  of 
commands  representing  New  England,  Maryland  and  Virginia,  with  volunteers 
from  New  York,  New  Jersey  and  Pennsylvania. 

The  enemy  finally  retreated,  followed  in  close  pursuit,  and  the  day  was  won. 
The  route  crossed  an  orchard  just  north  of  One  Hundred  and  Eleventh  Street 
and  terminated  in  the  vicinity  of  Jones'  House,  where  Knowlton  first  found 
them  in  the  early  morning.  It  was  considered  prudent  to  withdraw,  and  late  in 
the  afternoon  the  troops  returned  to  camp,  rejoicing  in  a  success  they  had  not 
anticipated.  It  is  estimated  that  about  30  men  were  killed  and  not  over  100 
wounded  and  missing.  A  total  British  loss  of  171  was  reported.  This  action 
put  new  courage  into  the  patriots  and  exerted  a  wide  influence  over  subsequent 
events. 

The  above  account  of  the  battle  follows  that  of  Henry  P.  Johnston,  Professor 
of  History  in  the  College  of  the  City  of  New  York. 

LANDMARKS   OF    THE  BATTLE-FIELD. 

The  Apthorp  Mansion,  where  Washington  waited  until  his  little  army  of 
3500  men,  none  of  whom  had  breakfasted  or  slept,  had  passed  in  retreat  from 
the  oncoming  enemy,  following  them  to  the  Roger  Morris  House  (Jumel  Man- 
sion) at  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-second  Street,  his  headquarters  until  after  the 
battle  (Excursion  IV,  Section  II).  When  Howe  took  possession  of  the  Apthorp 
House  it  was  whispered  about  that  he  was  made  welcome  there,  and  when  the 
war  was  over  Apthorp  was  included  in  the  list  of  persons  suspected  of  being 
Tory  sympathizers.  Although  indicted  for  treason,  he  was  never  tried  for  his 
alleged  crime.  Property  which  he  owned  in  Massachusetts  in  connection  with 
his  brother  was  confiscated,  but  his  New  York  realty  was  left  untouched. 
(Section  V:?). 

Van  de  Water  Heights,  owned  by  Herman  van  de  Water,  stretched  between 
One  Hundred  and  Sixth  and  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fourth  Streets,  and  in- 
cluded a  part  of  present  Morningside  Park.  These  Heights  were  a  portion  of 
the  De  Key  tract  and  were  bounded  south  by  the  land  of  Theunis  Eideyse  van 
Huyse,  and  east  by  Harlem  Commons.  Van  de  Water  and  Adriaen  Hooglandt 
purchased  one-half  of  the  tract  from  de  Key  in  1738. 

The  Houses  of  Humphrey  Jones,  his  son  Nicholas  Jones  and  the  Striker  Man- 
sion are  described  in  Section  V:8,  11,  12. 


MANHATTAN 


SIDE  TRIP  TO  FORT  LEE. 

By  Edward  IIagaman  Hall. 

Take  Fort  Lee  Ferry  from  West  One  Hundred  and  Thirtieth  Street, 
and  the  trolley  up  the  Palisades  to  Fort  Lee  Village. 

The  site  of  the  fort  is  on  the  bluff  bounded  by  Cedar  and  English 
Streets  and  Parker  Avenue.  In  the  woods  southwest  of  the  pond 
(now  dry)  and  of  the  church,  may  be  seen  some  remains  of  the 
fireplaces  or  chimneys  of  the  huts  of  the  American  troops,  and  west 
of  these  the  zig-zag  line  of  breastworks  can  be  traced. 

Washington's  Well  is  northeast  of  the  church  (east  of  Parker 
Avenue),  and  still  further  east  is  a  huge  flat  stone  which  was 
utilized  for  the  bottom  of  a  military  bread  oven.  Traces  of  re 
doubts  are  visible  on  the  crest  of  the  Palisades  east  of  the  fort, 
and  another  redoubt  some  distance  north  was  used  to  protect  tho 
sunken  obstructions  between  Jeffreys  Hook  or  Fort  Washington  Point 
and  the  Jersey  Shore  at  this  part  on  the  river. 

Fort  Lee  Park,  consisting  of  7^  acres,  was  given  by  Dr.  James 
Douglas  in  1910.  This  includes  the  chief  Revolutionary  sites  in  the 
neighborhood. 

The  Fort  Lee  Monument  was  dedicated  September  26,  1908,  -on 
Parker's  Pond  J^ot,  by  the  Fort  Lee  Monument  Association.  It  rep- 
resents a  Continental  soldier  and  drummer  boy  climbing  the  Palisades. 


131 


Plate  XXV.    Route  20. 
132 


C.  K. 


MANHATTAN 


ROUTE  20. 

SECTION  VII.— KIP'S  BAY  TO  HORN'S  HOOK;  THE  EAST 
RIVER  ISLANDS. 

Corrected  with  the  aid  of  Frank  Warren  Crane. 

(Figures  refer  to  Plate  XXV). 

Thirty-fourth  Street  to  One  Hundredth  Street,  east  of  Fifth  Avenue. 

Kip's  Bay  indented  the  eastern  shore  of  Manhattan  at  Thirty-fourth  Street 
where  now  are  the  ferry  slips.  Near  by,  on  the  east  side  of  Second  Avenue 
between  Thirty-fifth  and  Thirty-sixth  Streets  stood  until  1851  the  Farm- 
house of  Jacob  Kip  where,  in  1655,  he  brought  his  young  wife,  !Marie  de  la 
Montagne.  Here  also  the  British  landed  on  September  15,  1776,  when  they 
captured  the  Island  of  Manhattan. 

Turtle  Bay  is  a  rocky  cove  at  about  Forty-fifth  Street  on  the  shore  of 
which  stood  an  old  storehouse  where  the  British  kept  military  supplies.  These 
were  captured  in  1773  by  a  band  of  Liberty  Boys  under  John  Lamb  and  Mari- 
nus  Willett.  Fortifications  occupied  this  spot  during  the  two  wars  with  Eng- 
land. 

Artillery  Park  was  at  Forty-fifth  Street  and  First  Avenue  where  Nathan 
Hale  was  executed. 

Cannon  Point  was  the  name  given  to  the  projection  into  the  East  River  of 
East  55th  Street.  From  this  point  may  be  obtained  a  good  view  of  the 
dangerous  rocks  and  eddies  of  the  East  River  and  of  the  south  end  of  Black- 
wall's  Island. 

The  river  shore  is  as  bold  and  rocky  as  it  was  in  the  early  days,  the  swift 
current  of  the  East  River  making  it  difficult  to  utilize  this  portion  of  Man- 
hattan  for  docks. 

The  old  Post  Road  after  leaving  Madison  Square  and  crossing  Third  Avenue 
between  Forty-second  and  Forty-third  Streets,  ran  to  Second  Avenue,  crossing 
it  at  Fifty-second  Street  (at  Cato's  .Road  House)  and  again  at  Sixty-third 
Street.  It  crossed  Third  Avenue  at  Sixty-fifth  and  Seventy-seventh  Streets  and 
Fourth  Avenue  at  Eighty-fifth  Street,  and  thence  ran  through  Central  Park  to 
Harlem,  its  west  brp.nch  joining  the  Bloomingdale  Road. 

The  4TH  ]MiLESTo:>E  is  at  Third  Avenue  and  Fifty-seventh  Street,  and  the 
5TH  Milestone  just  one  mile  north,  at  Seventy-seventh  Street  (see  Appendix: 
Milestones  and  Post  Roads). 

Odellzille  was  the  name  applied  to  a  hamlet  of  sixty  years  ago  lying  in  the 
region  of  Third  Avenue  and  Forty-ninth  Street.  From  it  a  long  lane  led  to 
the  country   house  of   Hora-^e   Greeley   on   the    East    River  shore. 

Yorkville  was  a  village  on  the  old  Post  Road  between  Eighty-third  and  Eighty- 
ninth  Streets,  Fourth  and  Second  Avenues,  by  some  so  considered  from  Fifty- 
ninth  to  One  Hundredth  Street,  the  old  Hell  Gate  ferry  being  then  at  the 
foot  of  Eighty-sixth  Street.  Seventy-fourth  Street  was  the  south  boundary  of 
the  old  *'  Town  of  Harlem." 

Take  Second  Avenue  Elevated  R.  R.  to  Fiftieth  Street  and  walk  east 
to  First  Avenue. 

1.  Site  of  the  Beekman  House  on  Beekman  Hill,  between  Fifty-first  and  Fift}'-^ 
second  Streets  west  of  First  Avenue,  where  P.  S.  135  now  stands.  The  house 
was  built  in  1763  by  Wm.  Beekman  and  became  the  headquarters  of  Howe,  Clin- 
ton and  Carleton.  In  a  greenhouse  on  the  grounds  Hale  was  tried  as  a  spy  and 
here  Andre  received  his  final  instructions  before  going  north  to  meet  Arnold. 
The  house  was  torn  down  in  1874,  but  one  of  its  mantels  and  some  of  the  Dutch 
Scripture  titles  may  be  seen  in  the  New  York  Historical  Society  Building. 
Note  the   steep   incline   leading  up   to  Beekman  Hill. 

2.  Beekman  Place,  between  Forty-ninth  and  Fifty-first  Street, 
near  the  river,  preserves  the  historic  name.  Note  the  view  of  the 
East  River  here. 

133 


Route  20 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Kip's  l>*ay  to 


Go  north  to  Fifty-third  Street  and  east  to  the 

3.  Shot  Tower,  built  by  Mr.  Youle  in  1821  (succeeding  the  old 
tower  of  Revolutionary  days)  and  used  during  the  Civil  War. 
Nearby  stood  until  recently  the  De  Voor  Farmhouse,  built  about  200 
years  ago,  at  the  foot  of  East  Fifty-third  Street.  The  Spring  Valley 
Farm  was  granted  in  1677  by  Governor  Andros  to  David  Duffore 
or  De  Voor.  It  was  later  called  the  Odell,  Arden  or  Brevoort  es- 
tate. It  was  a  good  example  of  substantial  Dutch  architecture  and 
one  of  the  oldest  buildings  in  the  city  when  destroyed.  De  Voor's 
Mill  Stream,  the  Saw  Kill  or  Saw  Mill  Creek,  ran  from  the  high 
ground  of  upper  Central  Park,  being  crossed  at  Seventy-seventh  and 
Fifty-second  Streets  by  two  "  Kissing  Bridges." 

4.  The  Brevoort  House  at  415  East  Fifty-fourth  Street  is  of 
Dutch  architecture  but  much  later  than  the  De  Voor  House  (af- 
ter 1800).  It  was  a  country  residence  of  the  Brevoort  family, 
though  not  the  original  homestead. 

Go  north  on  Avenue  A  under  the  new  Queenshoro  Bridge. 

5.  Smith's  Folly,  a  quaint  old  house  near  the  terminal  of  the 
new  Queenshoro  Bridge,  421  East  Sixty-first  Street.  It  was  built 
for  a  stable  in  1799  (see  date  on  rear  wall)  by  Colonel  Wm. 
S.  Smith,  son-in-law  of  President  John  Adams.  After  Smith's 
failure  it  was  used  as  a  tavern  until  1830,  wh^^n  it  was  bought  by 
Jeremiah  Towle,  City  Surveyor,  and  until  1906  was  occupied  by  his 
daughters.  Across  the  street  are  two  old  residences,  one  occupied 
by  the  Female  Guardian  Society  Industrial  School. 

6.  The  Schermerhorn  Farmhouse,  built  1747,  at  the  foot  of 
East  Sixty-fourth  Street  was  a  summer  home  of  Governor  George 
Clinton.  It  is  now  used  in  connection  with  the  new  buildings  of 
the  Rockefeller  Institute  of  Medical  Research,  the  erection  of  which 
obliterated  the  Jones  Chapel  and  an  old  graveyard  where  were  buried 
members  of  the  Jones,  Hardenbrook  and  Adams  families. 

Jones'  Wood,  north  of  Seventieth  Street,  was  part  of  tlie  90-acre  farm  (from 
Sixty-sixth  to  Seventy-fifth  Streets)  originally  owned  by  the  Provoost  family. 
Samuel  Provoost  becinie  the  first  Bishop  of  New  York  and  was  President  of 
Columbia  College.  riis  cousin,  David  Provoost,  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier 
who  became  a  smuggler  ("  Ready  Money  Provoost  ")  and  hid  his  ill-gotten 
gains  in  the  '*  Smugglers'  Cave  "  on  the  shore  of  this  farm,  or  in  a  cave  at 
Hallet's  I'oint,  Astoria.  The  old  Provoost  family  vault  disappeared  in  1858 
from    the    foot   of    I'2ast    Seventy-first    Street.      The    Jones    family   ac(iuired  this 

froperty  about    1803    and   later    Jones*    Wood   became   a    popular   picnic  resort, 
t  was  chosen  as  the  site  for  a  large  city  park  for  which  was  substituted  the 
land  covered  by  the  present  Central  Park. 

Go  west  on  Sixty-eighth  Street. 


134 


Horn's  Hook 


MANHATTAN* 


20  Route 


7.  Monument  in  the  German  Reformed  Church,  Sixty-eighth 
Street,  between  First  and  Second  Avenues,  erected  by  the  church 
in  memory  of  Baron  Steuben,  an  active  member  of  the  church  of 
which  J.  J.  Astor  was  elder,  clerk  and  treasurer  about  1800.  The 
church  was  organized  in  1758  and  erected  its  first  edifice  on  Nassau 
Street  between  Maiden  Lane  and  John  Street.  In  1822  it  moved 
to  Forsyth  Street,  in  1861  to  the  corner  of  Norfolk  and  Stanton 
Streets,  and  in  1897  to  the  present  location.  On  the  occasion  of  the 
150th  anniversary  of  the  church  (1908)  the  bell  now  used  was 
presented  to  the  congregation  by  the  German  Emperor.*i2 

Take  First  Avenue  car  to  Eighty-sixth  Street  and  go  cast  to  East 

River  Park. 

8.  The  Grade  House  in  East  River  Park  near  Eighty-eighth 
Street  stands  on  what  was  known  in  early  days  as  Horns 
Hook  (its  first  owner,  Siebert  Classen,  coming  from  Hoorn,  Hol- 
land), and  later  as  Rhinelander's  or  Observation  Point,  where  bat- 
teries were  placed  during  the  two  wars  with  England.  The  house 
was  built  by  Archibald  Gracie  about  1813  and  Washington  Irving 
was  a  frequent  visitor  here  and  at  the  John  Jacob  Astor  residence 
which  stood  just  south  near  the  present  Eighty-sixth  Street  and 
Avenue  A.  Some  of  the  trees  in  the  park  were  sent  from  China  and 
Japan. 

Note  view  of  the  upper  end  of  BlackwelTs  Island,  Mill  Rock,- 
Hell  Gate  and  Ward's  Island  (see  article  below  on  East  River 
Islands). 

9.  Site  of  the  Yalless  Hopper  House,  on  the  west  side  of  Second  Avenue  be- 
tween Eighty-third  and  Eighty-fourth  Streets,  until  1855.  It  was  a  quaint  stone 
structure  built  by  Benjamin  Waldron,  whose  daughter  Elizabeth  married  Hopper 
in  1759  and  passed  into  his  possession  on  the  death  of  his  father-in-law  in 
1782.  Its  sides  were  indented  with  shots  from  British  ships  during  the  attack 
at  Hoorn's  Neck.  An  advertisement  offering  for  sale  the  farm  of  Adolph 
Waldron  in  1786  states  that  a  ferry  had  long  been  established  to  Hallet's  Cove 
on  Long  Island. 

Go  Zi'cst  on  Ninetieth  Street,  passing 

10.  The  Prime  House  (best  seen  from  Ninetieth  Street  be- 
tween Avenue  A  and  First  Avenue),  now  one  of  the  buildings  of 
St.  Joseph's  Orphan  Asylum;  some  of  its  old  fireplaces  and  mantels  ^ 
are  preserved  and  from  its  upper  balcony  is  obtained  a  hne  view  of 
Hell  Gate.  Nathaniel  Prime,  a  merchant  prince,  had  his  town  house 
at  No.  I  Broadway.    He  built  the  uptown  house  in  1800. 

Go  north  on  Park  Avenue  to 

11.  The  Winfield  Scott  Mansion,  at  Park  Avenue  and  Ninety- 
third  Street  (northwest  corner),  erected  in  1847  and  now  used  as 
an  academy  by  the  Ursuline  Sisters  (about  to  be  torn  down,  I9I2).'*'I3 


35 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


THE  EAST  RIVER  ISLANDS. 

Near  the  turbulent  waters  of  Hell  Gate  is  a  group  of  three  islands 
covered  with  vast  buildings  of  stone  or  brick  where  the  poor,  the 
sick  and  the  insane  of  the  city,  as  well  as  the  offenders  against  law 
and  order,  are  cared  for  by  the  Departments  of  Charities  and  Cor- 
rection. 

Blackwell's  Island,  called  in  Indian  days  Minnahanonck  or  Long 
Island,  and,  later.  Manning's  Island,  was  granted  to  Captain  John 
Manning,  Sheriff  of  New  York  County,  in  1664.  Because  of  his  dis- 
graceful surrender  of  the  city  to  the  Dutch  in  1673,  his  sword  was 
broken  and  he  spent  some  years  in  retirement  in  his  "  castle "  on  the 
island.  He  left  it  to  his  step-daughter,  who  married  Robert  Black- 
well.  In  1828  the  city  bought  it  for  $50,000.  Most  of  the  buildings 
are  of  granite  dressed  on  the  island  and  built  by  convict  labor. 
Around  the  island  are  heavy  granite  sea  walls. 

Passes  may  be  obtained  from  the  Departments  of  Charities  and 
Correction. 

Hell  Gate  is  the  channel  between  Astoria,  Manhattan,  Ward's 
and  Blackwell's  Islands,  at  the  junction  of  the  Harlem  and  East 
Rivers.  Mr.  Edward  Hagaman  Hall  learned  that  "  Hell  Gate  "  is  a 
name  in  use  in  Holland  where  it  is  spelled  Helle-gat  and  is  ap- 
plied to  a  difficult  water  passage  between  the  Volkerak  and  Holland 
Diep,  on  the  much-traveled  waterway  between  Antwerp  and  Rotter- 
dam, the  name  being  used  in  the  same  sense  as  the  English  translation 
"  Hell  Gate."  The  efforts  to  derive  the  name  from  an  ancient  root 
meaning  "  beautiful  "  or  "  clear  "  have  no  foundation  in  fact. 

Owing  to  hidden  rocks  and  conflicting  tides,  the  strait  is  yet  dan- 
gerous for  navigation,  although  many  rocks  have  been  removed 
by  the  government.  The  great  work  of  exploding  these  reefs  was 
begun  in  1869-76  and  completed  in  1885.  Among  its  features  are  Pot 
Rock,  the  Devil's  Frying  Pan,  Flood  Rock,  Hog's  Back,  Nigger  Head 
and  Gridiron.  A  description  of  the  strait  is  given  in  the  Labadist 
Journal.  Mill  Rock,  or  Leland's  Island,  opposite  Ninety-third 
Street,  used  to  be  known  as  "  Sandy  Gibson's,"  a  favorite  stopping 
place  for  fishermen.  Here,  in  1812,  a  blockhouse  was  built  for  the 
defence  of  the  city. 

136 


East  River 


MANHATTAN 


Islands 


Ward's  Island  (also  called  Great  Barent,  Barn  or  Buchanan's 
Island)  was  bought  from  the  Indians  by  Van  Twiller  and  used 
by  him  as  a  pasture.  In  1776  it  was  occupied  by  the  British  who 
established  a  camp  here.  After  the  Revolution  two  brothers, 
Jasper  and  Bartholomew  Ward,  bought  it  and  divided  it  into 
farms.  In  1812  a  cotton  mill  was  built  and  a  bridge  which  con- 
nected the  island  with  One  Hundred  and  Fourteenth  Street. 
In  1840  it  became  the  Potter's  Field,  100,000  bodies  being  brought 
here  from   Bryant   Park   (see  Section  IV). 

4.  Little  Hell  Gate  is  the  strait  which  divides  Ward's  Island 
on  the  north  from 

Randall's  Island  (Belle  Isle,  Little  Barent  or  IMontresor's 
Island),  which  has  had  many  owners  since  the  English  ceded  it 
to  Thos.  Delavall,  an  early  collector  of  customs.  Among  the 
owners  was  Captain  James  Montresor,  who  lived  here  during 
the  Revolution.  Here,  in  1776,  250  Americans  w^ere  defeated  in 
an  attempt  to  capture  a  British  force.  Jonathan  Randall  bought 
the  island  in  1784  and  in  1835  sold  it  to  the  city  for  $50,000. 
A  pass  to  visit  the  House  of  Refuge  may  be  secured  from  the 
Department  of  Charities. 

North  and  South  Brother's,  Riker's,  City,  Hart's,  Hunter's  and 
Twin  Islands  are  described  in  Excursion  IX. 


137 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


ADDENDA— 1912 

*i  (p.  107).  The  Cruger  Mansion,  a  reproduction  of  Boscohel 
House,  seat  of  the  Douglas  family  in  Scotland,  was  the  home  of 
William  Douglas  and  his  sister,  Harriet  Douglas  Cruger.  Kossuth  was 
a  guest,  and  his  two  nieces  lived  here  many  years. 

*2(p.  109).  The  Irving  House  was  built  by  Mr.  Martin,  who  in  the 
50's  sold  it  to  Mr.  Phelps.  The  family  say  Washington  Irving  never 
lived  here. 

Tablets  and  medallion  heads:  (a)  William  Lloyd  Garrison,  south- 
east corner  Seventeenth  Street  and  Fourth  Avenue,  to  commemorate 
his  death  here,  May  24,  1879;  {b)  Henry  George  (Sc.  Richard  F. 
George),  on  Union  Square  Hotel,  Fifteenth  Street  and  Fourth  Avenue, 
erected  1909  to  commemorate  his  death  here,  October  29,  1897. 

*3  (p.  no).  Herman  Melville,  the  writer,  lived  at  104  East  Twenty- 
sixth  Street. 

*4  (p.  112).  The  Methodist  Historical  Society  has  a  collection  of 
relics  in  the  Methodist  Book  Concern,  150  Fifth  Avenue,  corner 
Twentieth  Street;  the  Huguenot  Society,  105  East  Twenty-second 
Street,  has  a  collection  of  books  relating  to  the  settlement  of  America 
by  the  French. 

*5  (p.  114).  Near  Greeley  Square:  Statues  of  (a)  Horace  Greeley, 
Broadway  and  Thirty-third  Street,  by  Alexander  Doyle,  erected  by  the 
Typographical  Union  and  a  Grand  Army  Post;  {b)  William  E.  Dodge, 
by  J.  Q.  A.  Ward,  erected  by  New  York  merchants. 

In  the  Hotel  Imperial,  Broadway  and  Thirtieth  Street,  is  the  paint- 
ing, ''Bowling  in  Bowling  Green." 

The  Arsenal,  Thirty-fifth  Street  and  Seventh  Avenue,  contains  tab- 
lets and  war  relics  from  the  old  Elm  Street  Armory. 

*6  (p.  117).  Union  troops  were  encamped  in  Reservoir  Square.  On 
July  4,  1863,  the  Draught  Riots  began  with  an  attack  on  the  Colored 
Orphan  Asylum  near  by,  at  Forty-third  Street  and  Fifth  Avenue.  The 
''Croton  Cottage"  was  burned  by  the  mob. 

Statue  of  William  Cullen  Bryant,  by  Herbert  Adams,  on  the  east 
side  of  the  Park,  near  the  Library,  erected  by  the  Century  Association 
in  1911. 

138 


MANHATTAN 


West  of  the  Bryant  Memorial  is  a  Memorial  P'ountain  to  Josephine 
Shaw  Lowell,  social  worker  and  philanthropist,  erected  May  21,  1912. 
See  tablet  in  front,  sunk  in  the  ground. 

In  the  Republican  Club,  on  the  site  of  St.  Ignatius'  Church,  at 
54  West  Fortieth  Street,  is  a  large  collection  of  rare  prints  and  maps 
of  old  New  York. 

*7  (p.  121).  The  name  'Times  Square''  was  given  shortly  after  the 
erection  of  the  present  Ti...es  Building,  by  a  citv  ordinance,  April  13,  1904. 

In  the  New  Amsterdam  Theater,  214  West  Forty-second  Street, 
is  the  painting,  "Reading  the  Declaration  of  Independence  to  the  Army 
on  the  Common,  July  g,  1776''  (see  p.  54). 

*8  (p.  123).  Statue  of  General  Franz  Siegel,  by  Bitter,  Riverside 
Drive  and  io6th  Street,  erected  by  public  subscription. 

*9  (p.  125).  Fulton  Water  Gate  and  Monument,  to  the  memory  of 
Robert  Fulton,  designed  to  stand  on  Riverside  Drive,  between  114th 
and  ii6th  streets,  to  be  erected  through  public  subscription  c  btained 
by  the  Robert  Fulton  ^lonument  Association.  When  completed  the 
remains  of  Fulton  are  to  be  transferred  from  Trinity  Churchyard  to 
this  monument. 

*io  (p.  127).  Japanese  Cherry  Trees  and  tablet  in  honor  of  Grant 
and  the  friendship  of  Japan  for  the  American  people,  presented  by  ihe 
Japanese  Government  in  1912.  The  tablet  is  just  northeast  of  the 
tomb  on  a  granite  block. 

*ii  (p.  127).  Tablet  at  the  south  end  of  the  Viaduct,  near  128th 
Street,  to  commemorate  the  Hollow  Way,  erected  1910  by  the  Knicker- 
bocker Chapter,  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution. 

*T2(p.  135).  The  block  bounded  by  Fifth  and  Madison  avenues, 
Seventieth  and  Seventy-first  streets,  was  part  of  the  great  Lenox  Farm 
left  to  James  Lenox  by  his  father,  Robert  Lenox.  In  1870  Mr.  Lenox 
gave  this  block  to  a  Board  of  Trustees  for  a  public  library,  and  here 
Lenox  Library  stood  until  after  the  opening  of  the  New  York  Public 
Library,  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  this  property  being  used  to  complete 
the  new  library.  ^ 

The  American  Jewish  Historical  Society,  No.  736  Lexington  Avenue, 
contains  books  relating  to  the  history  of  Jews  on  the  American  C(  n- 
tinent. 

*i3  (P-  135).  Milestones  are  found  along  Third  Avenue  as  follows: 
No.  2,  between  Sixteenth  and  Seventeenth  streets  (see  Fxc.  HI.  p.  91)  ; 
No.  4,  at  Fifty-seventh  Street:  No.  5,  at  Seventy-seventh  Street:  No.  7, 
at  iT7th  Street  (see  Appendix  A,  p.  371).  A  Revolutionary  cannon 
stands  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Third  Avenue  and  Fifty-first  Street. 

139. 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 

*I4  (p.  125).  Carl  Schurz  Memorial,  to  be  dediciated  May  10,  1913, 
at  Morningside  Drive  and  One  Hundred  and  Sixteenth  Street,  erected 
by  public  subscription.  It  is  the  work  of  Karl  Bitter  and  Henry  Bacon 
and  consists  of  a  bronze  figure  9  feet  high  on  a  granite  pedestal  with 
the  words — 

Carl  Schurz,  Defender  of  Liberty  and  Friend  of  Human  Rights. 

Bas-reliefs  represents  his  work  in  behalf  of  the  Negro  and  the  Indian. 

At  One  Hundred  and  Fourteenth  Street  and  Manhattan  Avenue  is 
statutary  by  Bartholdi  representing  Washington  and  Lafayette,  the  gift 
of  Charles  Broadway  Rouss. 

In  Hancock  Square,  St.  Nicholas  Avenue  and  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-third  Street,  is  a  statue  of  Winfield  S.  Hancock,  erected  by 
members  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 


140 


EXCURSION   IV.— CENTRAL   PARK  TO  KINGSBRIDGE. 

From  One  Hundred  and  Fourth  Street  to  Two  Hundred  and 
Thirtieth  Street. 

By  Frank  Bergen  Kelley. 

Corrected  1906  and  1909  with  the  aid  of  Reginald  Pelham  BoUoru 

Revised  1912 

topyright  1897,  by  the  City  History  Club  of  New  York. 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Plate  XXVI.  Map  of  McGown's  Pass  and  Vicinity  in  1776.  With 
Location  of  Some  More  Modern  Sites. 

Dr^wn   by   Edward   Hagaman   Hall,    from   whom   prints   of   original    ii  inches 
square  can  be  obtained.     Reproduced  by  permission. 

Division  marks  in  margins  represent  projection  of  center  lines  of  streets  and 
avenues.  Sites  am-,  topographical  features  are  carefully  located  with  refer- 
ence to  these  lines. 

For  complete  key  to  above  map  see  "  McGowan's  Pass  and  Vicinity,"  by 
Edward  Ilagaman  Hall. 


142 


MANHATTAN 


Index 

1.  American  Battery,  1776,  whence  Washington  watched  Battle  of 
Harlem  Heights. 

2.  American  Battery,  1776. 

3.  Matje  David's  Vly,  1776. 

Ground  embraced  between  4,  8,  14,  and  15  was  battlefield  of  Har- 
lem Heights ;  eastern  portion  now  called  Morningside  Heights. 

4.  Claremont  Restaurant. 

5.  Grant's  Tomb. 

6.  Barrier  Gate,  1814. 

7.  Fort  Laight,  1814. 

8.  Blockhouse  No.  4,  1814. 

9.  Block  House  No.  3,  1814. 

10.  Barnard  College ;  blood>  buckwheat  field,  September  16,  1776. 

11.  Columbia  University. 

12.  St.  Luke's  Hospital. 

13.  Block  House  No.  2,  1814. 

14.  Cathedral  of  St.  John  the  Divine. 

15.  16,  17,  18,  19,  20,  21,  22,  23,  British  fortifications  erected  1776;  20 
is  on  the  great  Hill  (the  Circle)  in  Central  Park;  22  is  also 
site  of  Fort  Clinton,  1814;  23  is  also  site  of  Nutter's  Battery,  1814. 

24.  Fort  Fish,  1814. 

25.  Block  House  No.  i,  1814. 

26.  British  redoubt,  1776;  Benson's  Point  redoubt,  1814. 

27.  Mill  Rock  Block  House,  1814. 

28.  American  redoubt,  evacuated  September  15,  1776. 

29.  Now  Mt.  Morris  Park. 


143 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


CENTRAL  PARK  TO  KINGSBRIDGE 

Bibliography, 

"  Harlem,  Its  Origin,  and  Early  Annals,"  Jas.  Riker. 

"  New  Harlem,  Past  and  Present,"  Toler  and  Nutting. 
History  of  the  War  of  1812,"  R.  S.  Guernsey. 

"  Field  Book  of  the  American  Revolution,"  Vol.  II,  Lossing. 
McGown's  Pass "   (American  Scenic  and  Historic  Preservation 
Society),  E.  H.  Hall. 

Lives  of  Alexander  Hamilton,  John  James  Audubon,  General  Na- 
thaniel Greene  and  Washington. 

"  Washington's  Headquarters,"  published  by  the  American  and 
Scenic  Preservation  Society. 

"The  Assault  and  Capture  of  Mt.  Washington,"  R.  P.  Bolton 
(Empire  State  Society,  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution). 

"  Transactions  of  the  Long  Island  Historical  Society,"  Vol.  III. 

Holyrood  Parish  Magazine,  articles  by  R.  P.  Bolton.  Astor  arid 
Lenox  Libraries. 

Magazine  of  American  History,  Vol.  VI.  . 

"The  Diary  of  Lieutenant  Charles  Philip  von  Krafft "  (New  York 
Historical  Society). 

"  The  Campaign  of  1776  around  New  York  and  Brooklyn,"  John- 
ston. 

"  Force's  American  Archives,"  Vol.  II,  Series  V. 

"  Memoirs  of  Alexander  Graydon,"  1832  and  1846. 

"  History  of  Attacks  on  New  York,"  Stedman. 

"  1776,  or  the  War  of  Independence,"  Lossing. 

"  The  History  of  the  County  of  Westchester,"  Rev,  Robert  Bolton. 

"  History  of  Kingsbridge,"  Thomas  Edsall. 

"  History  of  Westchester  County,"  Shonnard. 

Annual  Report  of  the  American  Scenic  and  Historic  Preservation 
Society,  1905. 

"The  Indians  of  Washington  Heights,"  pub.  by  Reginald  Pelham 
Bolton  (Am.  Museum  of  Natural  History,  1909). 
1912  Report  Am.  Scenic  and  Hist.  Pres.  Soc,  p.  147. 
*  refers  to  Addenda,  1912,  p.  173. 


144 


MANHATTAN 


SECTION   L— UPPER   CENTRAL   PARK,    IMOUNT  MORRIS 
PARK  AND  THE  VILLAGE  OE  NIEUW  HAERLEM. 
(Figures  refer  to  Plate  XXVI.) 

ROUTE  21. 

A.    NORTHERN  CENTRAL  PARK. 

Enter  the  Park  from  Fifth  Az'cnnc  and  One  Hundred  and  Seeond  _ 
Street  at  the  Girls'  Gate  and  foUozv  the  East  Drive;  or  from  One 
Hundred  and  Tenth  Street  and  Lenox  Avenue,  and  walk  south. 

21.  McGown*s  Pass  Tavern,  on  the  site  of  the  original  tavern, 
built  by  Jacob  Dyckman,  Jr.,  about  1750,  sold  in  1760  to  the  widow 
of  Capt.  Daniel  McGown,  who,  with  her  son  Andrew,  kept  it  as  a 
favorite  resort  for  hunters  with  foxhounds.  The  old  stone  McGown 
house  was  in  1790  replaced  by  a  frame  structure,  and  the  property 
was  sold  to  Thos.  B.  Odell  in  1845.  He  in  turn  sold  it  in  1847  to 
the  Sisters  of  Charity  of  St.  Vincent  de  Paul,  who  added  several 
buildin;is,  one  of  which  was  used  by  the  Free  School  Society. 
The  heights  were  then  called  Mt.  St.  Vincent.  After  the  act  of 
1853  was  passed  authorizing  the  laying  out  of  Central  Park,  from 
Fifty-ninth  to  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Street  (extended  to  One 
Hundred  and  Tenth  Street  in  1863)  the  Sisters  moved  (1858)  to  Mt. 
St.  Vincent-on-the- Hudson  (Edwin  Forrest's  ''Font  Hill"),  but  they 
had  charge  of  a  military  hospital  in  the  old  buildings  during  the 
Civil  War.  After  the  war  two  of  these  were  occupied  as  a  road- 
house  and  an  art  museum  respectively,  but  both  were  burned  in 
1881.  In  1883  the  present  tavern  was  erected  on  the  original  site 
and  in  1891  the  old  name  "  McGown's  (wrongly  spelled  McGowan's) 
Pass "  restored  by  law. 

The  old  Post  Road  ran  through  this  pass,  branching  just  north,  one  road 
continuing  to  Harlem,  the  other,  then  known  as  Harlem  Lane,  running  north- 
west to  meet  the  Bloomingdale  Road,  Along  this  latter  road  a  body  of 
American  troops  was  pursued  by  the  British,  September  15,  1776.  On  the  fol-  % 
lowing  day  the  British  occupied  the  Pass  and  erected  on  the  heights  (which 
became  the  center  of  a  defensive  military  signal  system)  a  number  of  works 
which  they  held  during  the  war.  In  1864  traces  of  a  Revolutionary  camp 
were  found  at  (20)  the  Great  Hill  or  Circle  (between  West  Drive  and 
Eighth  Avenue,  opposite  One  Hundred  and  Fifth  Street)  where  was  located 
one  of  the  British  redoubts  of  1776,  On  November  16,  1776,  nearly  3000 
Americans  captured  at  Fort  Washington  (Section  III,  61),  marched  through  I  he 
Pass  en  route  for  military  prisons.  On  November  21,  1783,  the  British  evacuated 
the  works  at  the  Pass,  which  were  thereupon  occupied  by  the  American 
troops. 

Take  path  on  right  to  top  of  hill  above  Harlem  Mere, 

145 


Route  21 


HISTORICAL    GUIDE  Central  Park 


22.  Remains  of  Fort  Clinton,  named  for  Mayor  DeWitt  Clin- 
ton, an  American  redoubt,  erected  in  1814  to  protect  the  city  from 
anticipated  British  attacks.  See  memorial  tablet  on  mount  of  old 
cannon  and  mortar,  erected  in  1906  by  the  children  of  the  City 
History  Club.  The  earthworks,  traces  of  which  are  still  visible, 
were  thrown  up  by  various  volunteer  bodies,  including  Colum- 
bia students,  the  Society  of  Tammany  and  the  Master  Butchers' 
Association.  This  fort  is  on  the  site  of  a  British  earthwork  of 
1776. 

The  flat  plateau  east  of  McGown's  Pass  Tavern  was  leveled  for 
(24)  Fort  Fish,  and  (23)  Nutter's  Battery,  was  550  feet  north  of  Fort 
Clinton  and  600  feet  north  of  Fort  Fish. 

Cross  East  Drive  and  ascend  hill  opposite  Seventh  Avenue  Gate, 
on  the  line  of  One  Hundred  and  Ninth  Street. 

25.  Block  House  No.  i,  on  the  rocky  bluff  opposite  "  Warrior's 
Gate"  (Seventh  Avenue).  This  was  one  of  four  stone  towers 
erected  in  1814  guarding  the  roads  from  Harlem  and  the  north. 
On  the  south  face  see  the  tablet  erected  1905  by  the  Women's 
Auxiliary  to  the  American  Scenic  and  Historic  Preservation  So- 
ciety. 

From  this  hill,  looking  north  to  northeast,  may  be  seen  the  site 
of  the  original  village  of  Nieuw  Haerlem  (Plate  XXVH),  the 
boundary  between  which  and  the  City  of  New  Amsterdam  ran  in  a 
straight  line  from  Seventy-fourth  Street  on  the  East  River  (two 
chimney  stacks  of  the  Metropolitan  Railroad  Powerhouse),  through 
McGown's  Pass,  to  the  northeast  corner  of  (11)  Columbia  University 
buildings  and  beyond  to  a  point  on  the  Hudson  (3),  near  One  Hun- 
dred and  Twenty-ninth  Street.  All  the  low  ground  to  the  east 
now  covered  by  buildings  was  meadow  or  marsh,  through  which, 
on  the  line  of  One  Hundred  and  Seventh  and  One  Hundred  and 
Eighth  Streets,  ran  the  Harlem  Creek. 

To  the  north,  between  Central  Park  and  Washington  Heights,  lay 
Vredendal,  the  land  of  Dr.  Montague,  the  first  settler  of  Harlem. 


146 


MANHATTAN 


ROUTE  22. 

B— THE  SITE  OF  THE  ORIGINAL  VILLAGE  OF  NIEUW 

HAERLEM. 

Established  by  Stuyvesant  in  March,  1658,  which  existed  200  years 
and  is  nozv  lost  to  sight  beneath  the  modern  Harlem. 

By  Reginald  Pelham  Bolton,  1909. 
Note. — So  few  traces  of  Niew  Haerlem  remains,  that  this  section 
is  not  laid  out  as  an  itinerary,  although  the  antiquarian  may  find  in- 
terest in  identifying  the  sites. 

(Figures  refer  to  Plates  XXVI  and  XXVII). 

Indian  Trail,  now  St.  Nicholas  Avenue,  and  once  the  Albany  Post  Road, 
also  in  part  called  Harlem  Lane.  This  ran  through  the  centre  of  Wedendal, 
The  site  of  the  homestead  built  by  Montagne  in  1636  was  where  it  crosses 
Seventh   Avenue  close  to  the   8th  milestone. 

At  right  angles  from  the  Farmer's  Gate,  to  the  northeast,  another  Indian 
trail  ran  to  the  Harlem  River,  then  called  the  Great  Kill,  which  trail  became 
one    of    the    village  streets. 

Vredendal,  or  Quiet  Dale,  th^  first  Harlem  settlement,  was  begun  in  1636 
by  Dr.  Montagne.  It  was  known  by  the  Indians  as  Muscoota,  or  the  Flats,  and 
included  the  lowlands  which  extended  north  and  northwest  of  Central  Park, 
from  the  Farmer's  Gate  to,  and  including,  Morningside  Park  (near  7). 

Montagne's  Creek,  known  to  the  Indians  as  Rcchewanes,  in  later  times  called 
the  Mill  Creek,  and  in  modern  times  the  Harlem  Creek.  The  large  gasometers 
at  One  Hundred  and  Seventh  Street  stand  in  the  old  bed  of  this  creek,  which 
extended  back  on  lines  of  One  Hundred  and  Seventh  to  One  Hundred  and 
Fourth  Streets  to  Central  park  at  Fifth  Avenue  and  One  Hundred  and  Ninth 
Street.  A  little  stream  ran  into  it  from  the  neighborhood  of  Morningside 
Park. 

The  Mill  Camp,  at  One  Hundred  and  Tenth  Street  and  Fifth  Avenue,  was  the 
site  of  the  local  grist  mill,  established  in  1667  by  Captain  Delavall,  with  a  dam 
across  the  creek  at  Third  Avenue  and  One  hundred  and  Tenth  Street. 

29.  Mount  Morris  Park.  This  hill  was  known  as  the  Slang  Berg, 
or  Snake  Hill,  from  the  rattlers  which  infested  it.  The  playground 
at  the  south  end  is  a  part  of  the  Calf  or  Clover  Pasture  in  which  the 
settlers  of  Harlem  had  common  rights.  An  American  and,  after- 
wards, a  Hessian  Battery  was  constructed  on  the  summit  in  1776 
commanding  the  mouth  of  the  Harlem  River. 

The  Fire  Tower  is  one  of  the  last  relics  of  the  old  Volunteer  Fire 
Department ;  the  bell  was  rung  every  evening  at  eight  up  to  recent 
years,  and  this  practice  was  resumed  in  1909. 

30.  Sylvan  Place.  This  little  secluded  street  occupies  part  of 
the  old  Church  Lane.    Note  the  old  trees  on  either  side. 

31.  Dutch  Reformed  Church  on  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- 
first  Street,  near  Third  Avenue.  This  is  the  fourth  structure  and 
stands  on  part  of  the  original  Toum  Lot  from  which  the  timber  was 
cleared  as  long  ago  as  1666  by  the  then  lessee,  Nelis  Matthyssen,  a 


147 


Route  22 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Nieuw 


Swedish  builder  of  fences.  The  building  used  to  face  on  Third 
Avenue,  but  in  1886  it  was  turned  round  to  its  present  position.  In 
the  belfry  is  the  original  bell,  cast  in  Holland,  which  once  hung  in 
the  first  churc-1.    The  inscription  on  it  reads : 


"Amsterdam  Anno  1734  Me  Fecit." 

This  church  stands  near  the  middle  of  the  Church  Lane,  or  Great  Way, 
alongside  which  tlie  village  was  laid  out."^' i 

32.     The  Great  Way.    At  the  corner  of  One   Hundred  and  'I  wentieth  Street 


Haerlem  MANHATTAN  22  Route 

i^nd  Lexington  Avenue  is  a  triangular  house,  tlie  angular  side  of  which  shows  the 
line  of  the  old  Church  Lane.  On  the  northeast  corner  of  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-fifth  Street  and  hirst  Aveiuie,  the  line  of  Church  Lane  extends  di- 
agonally  through   a    lumber   yard   to   the  river. 

33.  ^Iidway  of  the  block  between  Second  and  l-'irst  Avenues  on  One  Hundred 
and  Twenty-sixth  Street,  the  street  cuts  through  the  center  of  the  original 
graveyard.     Here,    among   the    graves,    the    Hessian   soldiers    were    picketed  in 

34.  Vcrz'celen's  First  Ferry  to  the  Bronx  was  established  in  1663,  on  the 
northeast  corner  of  One   Hundred  and  Twenty-sixth   Street   and    First  Avenue. 

35.  On  the  northwest  corner  of  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth  Street  and 
First  Avenue  was  the  house  of  the  X'oorleser  or  Reader  of  the  Dutch  Church. 

36.  One  hundred  feet  west  of  First  Avenue,  in  the  line  of  the  north  half  of 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth  Street,  stood  the  original  Dutch  Church,  built 
in  1668. 

37.  On  First  Avenue,  at  the  south  side  of  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth 
Street,  stood  the  second  Dutch  Church. 

Note  that  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-F^ifth  Street  to  Lenox  Avenue  passes 
through  the  Indian  Schorakin,  the  Dutch  Zegendal,  or  Vale  of  Blessing,  known 
generally  as  Jochiem  Pietcrsen's  Flat,  the  second  farm  settled,  before  the  village 
was  formed,  by  Captain  Jochiem  Pietersen  Kuyter,  a  Danish  gentleman,  who 
was   murdered   by   the    natives   in  1654. 

38.  At  First  Avenue  and  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fourth  Street,  the  avenue 
and  street  cut  the  old  Indian  Trail. 

39.  Between  One  Hundred  and  Twentieth  and  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-first 
Streets  and  Pleasant  Avenue  was  a  large  Indian  camp,  probably  a  fishing  place. 
A  ruunber  of  uncompleted  arrow  heads  were  found  here  in  1855,  indicating 
long   occupation    and   a    place    of  manufacture. 

Pleasant  Avenue  extends  along  what  was  the  margin  of  the  meadow  lands, 
known  to  the  Indians  as  the  Conykeekst.  and  to  the  Dutch  as  the  Ottersfyoor, 
from  the  numerous  otters  with  which  these  banks  abounded.  This  tract  was 
granted  to  the  Jonkheer  Jacobus  van  Curler  in  1636,  afterwards  purchased  by 
Van  Kculen  and  known  for  many  years  as   Van  Keulen's  Hook. 

Montague's  Point,  Pleasant  Avenue  and  One  Hundred  and  Fifth  Street 
(Plate  XXV'I)  known  to  the  Indians  as  Rechewanes  or  the  Great  Sands.  Here, 
in  1636,  Dr.  Montague  landed  from  his  dug-out  with  his  family  and  farm 
hands,   the   pioneer  settlers. 

Hellgate  Bay.  The  large  powerhouse  of  the  ^detropolitan  Railroad  Com- 
pany, at  Ninety-Sixth  Street  and  First  Avenue,  occupies  the  center  of  the  Bay, 
the  meadow  lands  on  i^-hich  were  reserved  for  the  Dutch  Church, 


149 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


MANHATTAN 


ROUTE  23. 

SECTION    II— HAMILTON    GRANGE    TO    FORT  GEORGE. 
West  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-seventh  Street  to  Dyckman  Street. 
(Figures  refer  to  Plates  XXVIII,  XXIX  and  XXXI;  see  also  XXX.) 
Take  Broadzi'ay  Subzmy  to  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-seventh  Street; 
Zi'alk  north  on  Hamilton  Place  to  One  Hundred  and  Thirty- 
ninth  Street  and  north  on  Convent  Avenue,  passing 
The  new  buildings  of  the  College  of  the  City  of  New  York 
(here  Historical  Museum  may  be  visited).     Hamilton  Place  oc- 
cupies the  line  of  Old  Broadway,  the  old  Bloomingdale  Road, 
which  led  from  Morningside  Heights  over  to  the  Post  Road  at 
One  Hundred  and  Fortj^-seventh  Street.  *2 

41.  Hamilton  Grange,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-first  Street  and 
Convent  Avenue,  next  to  St.  Luke's  Church,  formerly  stood  on 
the  west  side  of  the  avenue,  between  One  Hundred  and  Forty- 
second  and  One  Hundred  and  Forty-third  Streets.  It  was  oc- 
cupied by  Alexander  Hamilton  as  a  country  seat  (1802-4)  and 
named  The  Grange "  for  his  ancestral  home.  See  the  tablet 
erected  in  1908  by  the  Washington  Heights  Chapter  Daughters  of 
the  American  Revolution  on  the  porch  of  the  house  and  an  early 
engraving  of  Hamilton  in  the  vestry  room  of  the  church. 

The  Thirteen  (liquid  amber)  Trees j  said  to  have  been  planted  by 
Hamilton  in  honor  of  the  thirteen  States,  were  between  One  Hun-  . 
dred  and  Forty-second  and  One  Hundred  and  Forty-third  Streets, 
about  50  feet  west  of  Convent  Avenue;  all  are  now  destroyed. 
Go  east  to  St.  Nicholas  Avenue  and  north  to  One  Hundred  and  Fifty- 
second  Street. 

St.  Nicholas  Avenue  runs  a  little  west  of  the  original  King's  Way  or  Al- 
bany Post  Road.  **  Breakneck  Hill  "  was  part  of  the  old  road  at  about  One 
Hundred   and    Forty-seventh  Street. 

American  Intrcnchmcnt  Xo.  i,  at  One  Hundred  and  Forty-seventh  Street  was 
j      constructed   across   the   Heights   in   September,    1776.     It  was  used   in  the  fight 
I      with  British  frigates  on  Sunday,  October  27,  and  again  in  the  defense  of  the 
Heights    on    November    16,  1776. 

A  tablet  in  the  park  space,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-seventh 
Street  and   Broadway,   erected  by  the   Washington   Heights  Chap- 
ter, Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution,  marks  the  line  of  this  ^ 
intrenchment. 

At  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-second  Street,  on  the  west  side,  stood  until  i88t 
the  farmhouse  of  Jan  Dyckman,  grandson  of  the  original  H^irlem  settler  of 
the  name. 

Go  west  on  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-second  Street  to  Broadway. 

42.  The  Ninth  Milestone,  with  date  1769.  stands  in  a  private 
garden  on  the  north  side  of  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-second 
Street,  between  St.  Nicholas  and  Amsterdam  Avenues.  *3 

151 


Route  23 


HISTORICAL    GUIDE     Trinity  Cemetery 


Plate  XXVIII.    Route  23. 


Go  north  on  Broadway. 

43.  Tablet,  erected  by  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution  in  the  wall 
of  Trinity  Cemetery,  northwest  corner  of  Broadway  and  One  Hun- 
dred and  Fifty-third  Street,  to  commemorate  the  fighting  at  this 
place  in  the  assault  on  Fort  Washington  and  marking  the  second 
line  of  its  southern  defences. 

The  high  mounds  at  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-third  Street,  within 
the  Cemetery,  were  crowned  with  American  redoubts. 

Trinity  Cemetery,  within  which  may  be  seen  the  tombs  of  Gen- 
eral Dix,  Philip  Livingston,  J.  J.  Astor,  Stephen  Jumel  and  other 
distinguished  men ;  also  a  cenotaph  to  President  Monroe,  whose  body 
was  removed  to  Virginia  in  1858.  The  monument  to  Audubon  is 
visible  through  the  gateway  on  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-fifth  Street, 
between  Broadway  and  Amsterdam  Avenue. 

One  Hundred  and  F'ifty-fifth  Street  was  the  extreme  northerly 
limit  of  the  plan  of  the  city  as  laid  down  by  the  Commissioners  of 
1807. 

152 


Washington's  H'dqrs  MANHATTAN 


23  Route 


44.  Minniesland,  the  home  of  John  James  Audubon,  can  be 
seen  from  Riverside  Drive  on  the  line  of  One  Hundred  and  Fifty- 
sixth  Street,  near  the  river,  in  Audubon  Park.  The  whole  tract 
from  Amsterdam  Avenue  to  the  river  was  the  property  of  Audubon. 
The  house  was  built  in  1841  and  the  mansard  roof  added  in  1864. 
Audubon  lived  here  till  his  death,  January  27,  185 1.  It  is  said  that 
in  the  laundry  of  this  house  the  first  telegraphic  message  was  re- 
ceived from  Philadelphia  on  an  instrument  set  up  by  S.  F.  B.  Morse. 

45.  Museum  of  the  Hispanic  Society  of  America,  at  One  Hun- 
dred and  Fifty-sixth  Street  and  Broadway,  donated  in  1904  by 
Archer  M.  Huntington.  It  contains  a  library  of  books  and  manu- 
scripts, and  a  collection  of  objects  of  art  and  historical  interest,  as- 
sociated with  Spanish  history  and  art. 

46.  The  Museum  of  the  Numismatic  Society  (west  of  45)  con- 
tains a  fine  collection  of  coins  and  medals  of  general  historical  in- 
terest. 

Go  east  to  Broadway  and  north  to  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-ninth 

Street. 

A  TABLET  at  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-ninth  Street  and  Broadway,  erected  by 
the  Mary  Washington  Col.  Chapter,  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution,  marks 
the  third   line   of   intrenchments   across   the  island. 

Go  east  to  Edgecombe  Avenue,  or  on  One  Hundred  and  Sixtieth 
Street  to  Jumel  Place. 

47.  Washington's  Headquarters,  the  Roger  Morris  or  Jumel 
Mansion,  One  Hundred  and  Sixtieth  to  One  Hundred  and  Sixty- 
second  Streets,  between  Edgecombe  Avenue  and  Jumel  Terrace,  opened 
to  the  public  in  1907  as  a  Revolutionary  and  Colonial  Museum,  under 
the  care  of  the  Washington's  Headquarters  Association  of  New 
York  and  the  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution. 

For  full  account  of  the  Mansion  see  p.  156. 

The  cannon  on  the  lawn  is  a   Parrott   Gun  of  the   Civil  War 
period. 

North  of  the  mansion,  on  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-second  Street,  ^ 
near  Edgecombe  Avenue  is  a  rock  on  which  it  is  said  that  FitzGreene 
Halleck  composed  "  Marco  Bozzaris." 

Go  north  on  St.  Nicholas  Avenue. 

48.  Site  of  the  Cross  Keys  Tavern,  an  old  time  road  house,  on  the  east  side 
of  the  Albany  Post  Road  (now  St.  Nicholas  Avenue)  at  One  Hundred  and 
Sixty-fifth  Street.  It  is  said  that  here  Colonel  Knowlton's  hodv  was  brought 
Septiember  15,  1776.  The  head  of  the  leaden  statue  of  Ccoree  III  (erected  in 
Bowling  Green)  was  brought  here,  and  later  was  stolen  by  Cdx,  the  Tory  inn- 
keeper, and  buried  at  Kingsbridge  until  the  arrival  of  the  British  troo])s,'  when 
It  was  sent  to  England. 


Route  23 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


High  Bridge 


Walk  north  on  Broadway. 

49.  Site  of  the  Bradley  Farmhouse  (1800),  between  One  Hundred  and 
Sixty-eighth  and  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-ninth  Streets,  west  of  Broadway. 
This  was  the  site  of  a  camp  of  Americans  in  1776,  and  later  of  Hessians,  to 
1782.  Numerous  remains  of  camp  fireplaces,  with  military  objects  were  found 
here  when  streets  were  opened  through  the  farm. 

Note  on  the  west  side,  between  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-first  and  One 
Hundred  and  Seventy-Second  Streets,  part  of  a  fire  avenue  of  sycamores  which 
formerly  led  to  an  old  m.ansion  overlooking  the  Hudson  and  known  as  the 
French  Academy.  Where  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-first  Street  is  cut  through 
rocks  west  of  Fort  Washington  Avenue  were  traces  of  several  camp  fires  and 
a  redoubt.  Most  of  these  remains  will  rapidly  disappear  with  the  building 
operations  encouraged  by  the  extension  of  the  Subway. 

Go  east  on  One  Hundred  and  Seventh-second  Street  to  Amsterdam 
Avenue;  or  walk  direct  up  Audubon  Avenue. 

Lands  walked  over  are  part  of  the  last  allotment  of  Common  Lands  of  the 
Town  of  Nieuw  Haerlem  in  17 12.  Occasionally  traces  of  old  stone  fences  may 
yet  be  seen  in  vacant  blocks. 

At  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-second  Street,  walk  east  around  the 
Reservoir  to  the  terrace  on  the  east  side.  Note  the  fine  view  over  the 
Bronx. 

50.  High  Bridge,  biiiU  to  carry  the  first  Croton  aqueduct  across 
the  Harlem  in  1842.  See  tablet  on  bridge  abutment.  The  high 
tower  of  the  Water  Department  affords  a  fine  panoramic  view 
of  the  Heights  and  the  Bronx,  but  it  is  not  always  accessible 
without  a  permit  from  the  Department.  The  upper  gallery  is  404 
feet  above  the  river. 

51.  Crah  Island.  The  marshy  ground  on  the  Bronx  side  of  the  Harlem  at  this 
point  was  the  place  of  embarkation  of  the  42d  Highlanders  in  their  attack  in 
the  Battle  of  Fort  Washington,  November  16,  1776.  They  landed  in  a  ravine 
about  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-fifth  Street  in  what  is  now  Highbridge  Park. 
The  American  troops  were  concealed  among  the  rocks  of  the  Park. 

Take  Amsterdam  Avenue  car  going  north. 

52.  British  Redoubt.  East  of  Amsterdam  Avenue,  in  a  field, 
opposite  One  Hundred  and  Ninetieth  Street,  a  British  redoubt  with 
embrasures  may  still  be  seen.  This  formed  the  extreme  east  end  of 
the  Fort  George  outworks,  commanding  the  Harlem  River.  Palisades 
extended  from  it  down  to  the  river  bank.  At  One  Hundred  and  Nine- 
tieth Street,  on  Audubon  Avenue,  was  an  Officers'  Camp  of  the  Brit- 
ish Army. 


154 


Fort  George 


MANHATTAN 


23  Route 


53.  Fort  George,  in  1776  Laurel  Hill,"  later  called  Fort  Clin- 
ton. Three  fortifications  were  constructed  from  1776  to  1783.  The 
first,  Laurel  Hill,  was  taken  by  the  British  November  16,  1776,  the 
American  Colonel  Baxter  being  killed.  This  was  located  under  the 
present  site  of  the  Schultheis  Casino.  The  second  was  an  enlarge- 
ment of  the  first,  built  by  British  troops  in  1779,  and  extended  around 
the  present  Fort  George  Avenue.  Part  of  the  fortification  may  still 
be  seen  east  of  Audubon  Avenue,  opposite  One  Hundred  and  Nine- 
ty-second to  One  Hundred  and  Ninety-third  Streets. 

54.  The  great  military  Camp  of  Laurel  Hill  was  occupied  by  many  British  and 
Hessian  regiments  between  1777  and  1783,  and  extended  over  the  present  truck 
gardens,  west  of  Audubon  Avenue,  from  One  Hundred  and  Ninetieth  to  One 
Hundred  and  Ninety-fourth  Streets.  This  hill  was  known  in  Dutch  davs  as 
the  "  Ronde-vlys-berg  "  or  '*  Round  Meadow  Hill,"  reserved  for  a  future 
**  dorp  "  or  village,  but  divided  in  17 12. 

Note  the  fine  views:  west — Fort  Washington;  northwest — Fort 
Tryon;  the  flat  valley  below  was  the  farm  of  the  Kortright  family 
to  1776;  east — Fordham  Manor,  with  New  York  University,  just 
north  of  the  site  of  Fort  No.  VHI,  the  ridge  extending  north  towards 
Valentine's  Hill,  the  site  of  Fort  Independence  (Excursion  IX,  Sec- 
tion 2);  north — the  view  includes  the  "Round  meadow'*;  the  Dyck- 
man  farm  and  Nagel  lands  beyond  Two  Hundred  and  Tenth  Street ; 

Sherman's  Bay  "  or  the  "  Half  Kill " ;  Inwood,  or  the  Cock  Hill^ 
site  of  Cock  Hill  Fort  of  1776  and  beyond,  to  the  northeast,  Marble 
Hill,  site  of  Fort  Prince  Charles  (see  Section  IV). 

Walk  douii  St.  Nicholas  Avenue  to  Dyckman  Street,  or  through  the 
woods,  passing 

55.  British  Earthworks  in  the  woods  half  way  down  the  hill  in  line 
with  Amsterdam  Avenue. 

(For  points  near  Sherman's  Creek  see  Section  IV:  87,  88). 

56.  Site  of  the  house  and  farm  of  John  Coiirtright,  or  Kortright  (1703-80), 
south  of  Dyckman  Street,  at  intersection  of  Arden  Street  and  Sherman  Avenue. 
Quantities  of  shells  and  household  rubbish  have  been  excavated  here. 

Return  via  Subicay  from  Dyckjiiaii  Street. 


155 


Route  23 


HISTORICAL    GUIDE  Washington's 


WASHINGTON'S    HEADQUARTERS,    ROGER    MORRIS  OR 
JUMEL  MANSION 

JOSIAH   C.    PUMPELLY,   A.   M.,   LL.  B. 

The  Roger  Morris  House,  more  recently  known  as  the  Jumel 
Mansion,  and  now  as  Washington's  Headquarters,  is  a  fine  speci- 
men of  Georgian  architecture  and  ranks  in  historic  interest  with 
St.  Paul's  Chapel  and   Fraunces  Tavern. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Roger  Morris,  of  the  British  47th  Regiment 
and  a  member  of  the  King's  Council,  who  was  Washington's 
comrade  in  arms  and  wounded  in  the  ill-fated  attack  on  Fort  Du 
Quesne,  bought  the  property  and  in  1765  erected  the  house  which 
he  presented  to  his  bride,  Mary  Philipse.  as  a  wedding  gift. 

It  was  occupied  as  headquarters  by  Washington  from  Septem- 
ber 16  to  October  21,  1776.  Here  he  formed  plans  for  de- 
fending the  Heights  and  for  blocking  the  passage  of  the  Hudson 
River  and  here  he  issued  the  remarkable  series  of  general 
orders  and  carried  on  the  famous  correspondence  with  William 
Duer  of  the  Secret  Committee  of  Safety.  In  the  neiguborhood 
were  camped  8000  inexperienced  volunteer  forces,  mostly  raw 
and  undisciplined,  in  motley  garb  and  held  together  only  by 
the  bond  of  a  common  principle  and  the  power  of  a  united  love 
of  liberty  and  independence. 

During  the  battle  which  resulted  in  the  capture  of  Fort  Wash- 
ington, November  16,  1776,  the  T^Iorris  House  was  the  center 
of  operations  The  three  lines  of  earthworks  to  the  south  were 
carried  by  English  troops  under  General  Lord  Percy;  the  42d 
Highlanders  scaled  the  hill  above  the  present  Speedway,  while 
the  main  attack  by  the  Hessians  was  in  front  of  Fort  Tryon. 
The  prisoners  from  Fort  Washington  were  first  assembled  in 
the  Morris  barns  before  being  taken  to  the  hulks  and  prison 
houses  in  New  York. 

The  house  was  the  headquarters  of  Lieutenant-General  Sir 
Henry  Clinton,  and,  therefore,  the  headquarters  of  the  British 
Army,  during  the  entire  summer  of  1777. 

During  the  summer  of  1778  it  was  occupied,  after  his  return 
from  Philadelphia,  by  Lieutenant-General  Baron  von  Knyphausen 
and  his  German  staff.  It  continued  throughout  the  war  to  be  the 
Hessian  headquarters,  and  in  the  last  years  was  occupied  by 
Lieutenant-General  von  Losberg. 

156 


Headquarters 


MANHATTAN 


23  Route 


After  the  Revolution  the  Morris  farm  was  confiscated  and 
sold.  It  was  successively  farmhouse  and  inn,  the  latter  known 
as  Calumet  Hall,  where  the  first  change  of  horses  was  made 
after  leaving  New  York  for  Albany.  In  1790,  President  Wash- 
ington and  his  Cabinet,  after  a  visit  to  Fort  Washington  on 
July  10,  dined  here  on  a  dinner  provided  by  a  Mr.  Marrincr." 
Among  the  guests  of  the  President  were  John  and  Abigail  Adams, 
Alexander  Hamilton  and  Mrs.  Hamilton,  General  Knox  and 
Mrs.  Knox,  Thomas  Jefferson,  Mrs.  Tobias  Lear,  John  Park 
Custis  and  Nellie  Custis. 

In  1810  the  house  was  bought  by  Stephen  Jumel,  a  wealthy 
French  wine  merchant,  who  restored  it  to  its  condition  in  W^ash- 
ington's  time.  In  1815  the  Jumels  went  to  France  in  their  own 
ship  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  Napoleon  Bonaparte  to  America. 
They  remained  abroad  until  1826,  the  house  being  rented  during 
that  time.  Stephen  Jumel  returned  in  1828  and  the  family  was 
united  in  the  old  house.  The  Jumels  brought  with  them  man}- 
presents  from  Napoleon  and  souvenirs  of  his  reign.  His  cam- 
paigning trunk,  a  chariot  clock  from  the  Tuileries,  a  table  painted 
by  Josephine  and  numerous  pieces  of  furniture  remained  in  the 
house  until  1888.  Stephen  Jumel  died  in  1832  and  was  buried  in 
the  grounds  of  the  Cathedral  of  St.  Patrick  in  Prince  Street. 

In  1833  Mme.  Jumel  married  Aaron  Burr.  The  marriage  was- 
soon  followed  by  a  separation  and  divorce. 

From  a  period  even  before  the  Jumel  purchase  the  house  was 
the  resort  of  French  emigres.  Louis  Napoleon,  Jerome  and 
Joseph  Bonaparte  were  at  various  times  guests  of  Mme.  Jumel. 
Mme.  Jumel  died  in  1865  and  her  tomb  may  be  seen  in  Trinity 
Cemetery,  west  of  Broadway,  near  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-fourth 
Street. 

Nelson  Chase,  who  studied  law  in  the  office  of  Aaron  Burr 
and  married  Mary  Bownes,  the  niece  of  Mme.  Jumel,  occupied 
the  house  for  fifty  years.  He  was  an  able  lawyer  and  litterateur 
and  entertained  here  James  Parton,  the  poet,  N.  P.  Willis,  his 
sister  Fanny  Fern,  Mrs.  Blennerhasset  and  many  other  literary 
friends. 

While  a  guest  here,  FitzGreene  Halleck  wrote  his  celebrated 
poem,  **  Marco  Bozzaris." 


157 


Route  23 


HISTORICAL    GUIDE  Washington's 


After  the  death  of  Chase  the  property  changed  hands  several 
times  and  finally  in  May,  1903,  it  was  purchased  for  $235,000  by 
the  city,  through  the  intercession  of  the  Washington  Heights 
Chapter  of  the  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution,  assisted 
by  the  Society  of  the  Sons  of  the  American  Revohition. 

On  December  28,  1903,  the  house  v^as  formally  opened  under 
^he  auspices  of  the  City  of  New  York  and  on  January  19,  1905, 
the  Park  Department  decided  to  retain  control,  and  in  1907 
the  Washington's  Headquarters  Association  of  New  York  and 
the  Society  of  the  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution  acquired 
the  use  of  the  house  for  a  museum  of  historic  relics  and  furnish- 
ings of  the  period  of  the  Revolution. 

The  Council  Chamber,  the  large  octagonal  room  at  the  back 
of  the  hall,  known  in  Washington's  time  as  the  Court-Martial 
Room,  contains  some  rare  pieces  of  Colonial  furniture,  notably 
one  of  the  Washington  plates  decorated  with  the  insignia  of  the 
Cincinnati.  It  is  said  that  in  this  room  Washington  received 
visits  of  the  sachems  of  the  Five  Iroquois  Nations  who  offered 
their  allegiance  to  the  cause  of  liberty. 

The  Guard  Room,  in  charge  of  Reginald  Pelham  Bolton,  con- 
tains a  collection  of  objects  dug  up  on  the  battlefield  and  camp 
grounds  in  the  vicinity  by  Messrs.  Bolton  and  Carver,  such  as 
cannon  balls  and  bar-shot,  buttons  of  British  and  Hessian  regi- 
ments, shoe-buckles,  coins,  Revolutionary  weapons  and  Indian 
remains. 

The  Dining  Room  contains  portraits  of  the  hosts  and  hostesses 
and  famous  guests  of  the  house,  all  carefully  arranged  and  veri- 
fied by  W.  H.  Shelton,  the  Curator;  also,  a  collection  of  Napo- 
leon-Jumel  china  presented  by  Edwin  Francis  Searles  of  Methuen, 
Mass. 

The  Tea  Room,  which  in  Washington's  time  must  have  been 
the  office  of  the  Adjutant  General,  contains  old  furniture,  por- 
traits, cabinets  of  china  and  souvenirs  of  the  Colonial  and  Revo- 
lutionary periods. 

Washington's  Bedroom  and  Office  and  the  Rooms  of  Lafayette 
and  Burr  are  on  the  second  floor.  The  Washington  bedroom  is 
furnished  as  a  Colonial  bedroom,  and  one  of  its  notable  exhibits 
is  a  small  table  on  which  Major  Andre  wrote  a  letter  to  Arnold 
in  the  presence  of  his  captors.     The  Lafayette  Room  contains 

158 


Headquarters 


MANHATTAN 


23  Route 


the  collection  of  Mrs.  Louis  Bennett  of  West  Virginia,  and  in- 
cludes the  richly  carved  bed  and  sofa  used,  by  Lafayette  at  the 
Charleston   (S.  C.)  Hotel. 

Other  important  exhibits  are  the  Washington  table  from 
Fraunces  Tavern,  a  British  army  blanket  of  the  period  of  the 
Revolution,  reproduction  of  the  West  and  Copley  portraits  of 
Roger  Morris  and  Mary  Philipse  (presented  by  the  Hon.  H.  M. 
Bower,  Mayor  of  Ripon,  England),  Washington  watches,  mourn- 
ing pitchers  and  handkerchiefs,  Aaron  Burr's  trunk,  Governor 
Bradford's  punch-bowl.  Governor  Trumbull's  chair  and  Lafayette 
relics. 

On  the  front  of  the  house  note  the  tablet  erected  in  1900  by 
the  Washington  Heights  Chapter,  Daughters  of  the  American 
Revolution. 

The  building  and  grounds  are  open  to  the  public  every  day 
from  9  to  5. 

The  Eleventh  Milestone,  originally  at  170th  Street  and  Broadway, 
was  removed  to  Roger  Monis  Park  by  the  City  History  Club,  191 1,  and 
stands  at  the  rear  of  the  Mansion.  In  1912  the  Club  provided  a  marker 
and  bronze  tablet  with  the  following  inscription: 

II  Miles 

from 
N.  York 
In  1769  at  156th  St. 
In  1819  at  170th  St. 
The  City  History  Club 
1912 


See  Historical  Sketch  of  Washington's  Headquarters,  prepared  under 
the  auspices  of  The  Washington  Headquarters  Association.  New  York, 
by  Emma  A.  F.  Smith. 


159 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


aaDDODDDDraDI 


AVE  — J  T-.Afl<:  HO ->H-A^ 


t  y\v     .    k->  J  . — I  t-i-iu  — 

nssflanDnDDDDDDDOD 


Plate  XXIX.     Routes  23,  24,  25. 


160 


MANHATTAN 


ROUTE  24. 

SECTION  III— FORT  WASHINGTON. 
One  Hundred  and  Eighty-first  to  One  Hundred  and  Ninety-sixth 

Streets. 

Take  Broadway  Subway  to  One  Hundred  and  Eighty-first  Street  and 
zvalk  west  to  Broadzvay.  *4 
(Figures  refer  to  Plate  XXIX;  see  XXX). 

57.  Site  of  the  original  Farm  of  the  Van  Oblinus  family,  between 
T/Qth  and  i8oth  streets,  west  of  Broadway;  first  Dutch  settlers 
in  this  region  (before  1706).  In  1691  the  ground  was  granted  to  Joost 
Oblinus,  Magistrate  of  Harlem,  and  was  known  as  the  ''Indian  Field," 
or  "Great  Maize  Land,"  having  been  one  oi  the  planting  grounds  of 
the  Weckquaskeek  tribe. 

58.  In  Holyrood  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  at  Fort  Washington 
Avenue  and  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-ninth  Street,  is  a  tablet  erected 
in  1902  by  the  Mary  Washington  Colonial  Chapter,  Daughters  of  the 
American  Revolution,  in  commemoration  of  the  exploit  of  Margaret 
Corbin,  who  took  her  soldier  husband's  place  on  his  death  during  the 
attack  on  Fort  Washington  (see  69,  p.  167).  In  1902  a  Peace  Bell  was 
dedicated  in  memory  of  the  successful  end  of  the  Revolution.  The 
surrounding  land  was  occupied  by  American  barracks  in  1776  (a  camp 
market  being  held  here  in  October  of  that  year),  and  by  Von  Donop's 
Hessian  hut-camp  u^.''-til  1781. 

59.  Site  of  the  Blue  Bell  Tavern,  on  the  west  side  of  Broadway,  60  feet  north 
of  One  Hundred  and  Eighty-first  Street.  At  this  point  Washington  reviewed 
the  army  of  occupation  on  Evacuation  Day,  Novemoer  25,  1783.  The  tavern 
was  a  well-known  hostelry  probably  started  about  1730;  Cadwalader  Colden 
mentions  it  in  1751.  It  was  occupied  by  Howe  on  the  capture  of  Fort  Wash- 
ington. Afterwards  it  became  the  store  and  home  of  the  family  of  Bernard 
Bauer,  or  Bowers,  and  existed  as  a  dwelling  to  1870.  (See  the  view  in 
Valentine's  Manual,   1857,  p.  208.) 

The  westerly  hill  north  of  One  Hundred  and  Eighty-first  Street  was  known 
as  "Long  Hill,"  changed  in  1776  to  "Mount  Washington";  Laurel  Hill,  now 
Fort  George,  lies  northeast  of  the  line  of  Broadway. 

Go  west  on  One  Hundred  and  Eighty-first  Street  and  north  through 
the  old  Bennett  Lane,  passing  on  the  right 

60.  Death  Gap,  the  ravine  to  the  north,  the  traditional  scene  of 
great  execution,  as  here  the  British  and  Hessian  troops  tried  to  force 
their  way  up  the  heights,  the  defenders  hurling  great  boulders  down 
on  them  from  above.  Human  bones  have  been  found  in  the  valley 
below,  many  near  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  and  One  Hundred  and 
Eighty-seventh  Street. 

161 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


MANHATTAN 

INDEX  TO  PLATE  XXX. 


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163  . 


Route  24 


HISTORICAL    GUIDE       Ft.  Washington 


The  "  Hessian  Spring  "  in  the  ravine  below  the  rocks  is  now  covered  by 
Bennett  Avenue  at  One  Hundred  and  Eighty-fourth  Street.  The  line  of  the 
avenue  above  was  the  site  of  the  hut-camp,  and  some  traces  of  the  garrison  of 
English  and  Scotch  troops  were  found  here  in  1909.  The  line  of  an  old  zig- 
zag road,  connecting  Fort  Washington  and  Fort  George,  may  still  be  traced 
on    both    sides    of  Broadway. 

61.  Remains  of  Fort  Washington,  the  central  citadel  of  the 
defenses  of  the  Heights  in  the  Revolution,  built  chiefly  by  Penn- 
sylvania troops,  directed  by  Colonel  Rufus  Putnani,  afterwards 
captured  by  the  British,  and  called  Fort  Knyphausen.  This  is  the 
highest  point  of  land  on  Manhattan,  270  feet  above  tidewater. 
Here  the  American  garrison  of  3000  men  and  officers  surrendered 
on  Nov.  16,  1776.  At  One  Hundred  and  Eighty-third  Street  and 
Fort  Washington  Avenue  the  site  of  the  fort  is  marked  by  a 
marble  wayside  seat  and  tablet  (the  gift  of  James  Gordon  Ben- 
nett), erected  in  1901,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Empire  State 
Society,  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution,  and  of  the  American 
Scenic  and  Historic  Preservation  Society.  The  tablet  is  at  the 
base  of  the  northeast  bastion  of  the  fort.  The  west  bastions  are 
plainly  visible  southwest  of  the  Bennett  House;  the  east  glacis 
was  the  slope  on  the  north  side  of  One  Hundred  and  Eighty-first 
Street  and  ravelins  or  breastworks  extended  across  the  old  Ben- 
nett Lane  and  front  yards  of  the  two  houses  on  One  Hundred 
and  Eighty-first  Street,  at  the  intersection  of  Fort  Washington 
Avenue.  Along  Fort  Washington  Avenue  have  been  unearthed 
numerous  military  relics,  and  75  feet  south  of  One  Hundred  and 
Eighty-first  Street  were  found  bones  of  45  dead  who  appear  to 
have  been  buried  in  a  trench.  This  was  the  site  of  the  garrison 
burying  ground,  and  those  killed  at  the  Battle  of  Fort  Washing- 
ton were  probably  buried  at  this  point. 

62.  Bennett  House,  the  one-time  residence  of  the  elder  and 
younger  James  Gordon  Bennett,  founders  of  the  New  York 
Herald." 


164 


MANHATTAri 
ROUTE  25. 

SIDE    TRIP    A— FORT    WASHINGTON    MONUMENT  TO 

FORT  WASHINGTON  PARK. 
Walk  south  on  Fort  Washington  Avenue  to  One  Hundred  and  Eighty- 
first  Street,  west  to  Riverside  Drive,  once  Boulevard  La- 
fayette, and  south  to  the  entrance  of  Port 
Washington  Park. 
(Figures  refer  to  Plate  XXIX). 
Follow  the  path  over  the  bridge,  crossing  the  deep  cutting  of  the 
Hudson  River  R.  R.,  nicknamed  the  "  Dolly  Varden,"  the  earliest 
railroad  line  (date  of  franchise  August  19,  1847^  to  enter  the  city, 
over  which  a  few  passenger  trains  and  many  freight  trains  still  pass. 

63.  Sunset  Lane  meets  this  path  from  the  south  just  before  it 
crosses  the  bridge.  Cedar  Point  is  the  projection  into  the  Hudson 
northwest  of  the  bridge.  A  fine  view  may  be  obtained  up  the 
river  as  far  as  the  Tappan  Zee.  After  crossing  the  bridge,  turn 
up  the  side  path  to  the  left  and  on  the  top  of  the  hill  see  the 

64.  Redoubt,  built  in  October,  1776,  by  American  troops,  di- 
rected by  Imbert,  a  French  engineer,  the  best  preserved  of  the 
entire  district.  *5 

Pass  south  through  the  redoubt  and  dozuii  over  the  rocks  a  short 

distance  to 

65.  Site  of  telegraph  mast,  a  circular  hole  in  a  flat  rock,  cut  in 
1852  for  the  support  of  a  tall  mast  from  which  were  suspended 
telegraph  wires  to  the  New  Jersey  shore,  before  the  submarine 
cable  was  perfected.  See  the  iron  staybolts  in  the  surrounding 
rocks. 

Descend  to  the  river  shore.    The  extreme  point  is 

66.  Jeffrey's  Hook,  now  know^i  as  Fort  Washington  Point,  the 
place  from  which  ships  were  taken  and  sunk  in  the  Hudson  to 
check  the  passage  of  the  British  fleet  in  1776.  Here  Washington 
crossed  to  and  from  Fort  Lee,  which  is  situated  nearly  due  west 
on  the  Palisades.  (Excursion  to  Ft.  Lee:  Excursion  V,  Section  6). 
The  point  is  covered  by  remains  of  a  one-gun  "lunette,"  or  moon- 
shaped  battery,  built  in  1776.  Note  the  beaches  where  men  and 
stores  were  landed.  Indian  shell  heaps  line  the  bank  of  the  east- 
erly beach. 

Take  a  rocky  path  south  along  shore  to  the  Fort   Washington  Rail- 
road Station,  or  return  by  Sunset  Lane  to  Depot  Lane 
and  ascend  east  to  Broadn'ay,  passing 

67.  Site  of  Post's  Tavern,  at  the  east  side  of  Broadway,  opposite  Depot  Lane. 
It  was  a  well  known  hostelry  from  the  Revolution  to  about  1854.  Many  small 
relics  have  been  fjund  at  the  northwest  intersection  of  the  above  streets. 

Return  to  Subway  Station  at  One  Hundred  and  Eighty-first  Street  or 

L_  t^k^  ^/.y.>  Trih  R  


MANHATTAN 


ROUTE  26. 

SIDE  TRIP  B— TO  FORT  TRYON. 
(Figures  refer  to  Plate  XXXI;  see  also  XXX.) 

Walk  north  along  Fort  Washington  Avenue,  passing 

68.  Libby  Castle,  built  in  1864  by  William  Alexander  Richards 
and  occupied  for  a  time  by  William  Tweed. 

6g.  The  site  of  Fort  Tryon  is  at  One  Hundred  and  Ninety-seventh 
Street,  on  what  was  known  as  Forest  Hill.  A  small  two-gun 
"fleche"  (marked  by  a  tablet,  the  gift  of  C.  K.  G.  Billings  and 
erected  in  1909  under  the  auspices  of  the  American  Scenic  and 
Historic  Preservation  Society),  forming  the  one-time  northeast 
angle  of  the  fort,  is  still  visible.  On  the  northwest  side  of  the 
hill  breastworks  may  be  seen,  probably  the  scene  of  Margaret 
Corbin's  exploit.  Around  this  hill  took  place  the  bloodiest  re- 
sistance of  the  battle,  600  Maryland  and  Virginia  troops  with- 
standing 4,600  Hessians  for  nearly  three  hours.  Half  way  down 
the  hill  towards  the  Hudson,  and  reached  from  the  top  by  a  nar- 
row path,  was  the  spring  which,  at  one  time,  supplied  the  gar- 
rison. In  the  little  field  on  the  east  side  are  said  to  be  buried 
the  Hessian  dead. 

70.  The  Abbey  is  a  fanciful  name  applied  to  the  old  Hays 
House,  now  a  restaurant. 

Descend  by  the  hill,  turning  southeast  to  Broadway,  thence  north  to 
Dyckman  Street,  passing 

71.  The  site  of  the  old  Black  Horse  Tavern  of  about  1812,  on 
the  corner  of  Riverside  Drive  and  Dyckman  Street.  *6 

Return  by  Subway  or  Surface  Cars. 


167  ^ 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


ROUTE  27. 

SECTION   IV.— KINGSBRIDGE  TO  INWOOD. 
(Figures  refer  to  Plates  XXXI  and  XXXII;  see  also  XXX). 
Take  Broadway  Subway  to  Two  Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth  Street 

Station. 

72.  Marble  Hill,  once  known  as  Humock  Island  or  Papirinemen 
a  place  parcelled  out")-    This  Indian  name  included  the  creek 

around  the  Hill, 

73.  The  King's  Bridge,  established  by  Royal  Grant  of  William 
and  Mary  to  Frederick  Philipse  of  the  Manor  of   Philipsburgh  in 


Plate  XXXII.    Routes  27,  28, 


Ship  Canal 


MANHATTAN 


27  Route 


1693  31^^  first  constructed  about  twenty  yards  east  of  the  present 
bridge,  rebuilt  in  1713,  near  its  present  position.  It  was  broken 
down  after  the  retreat  of  Washington's  troops  over  it  in  October, 
1776;  repaired  by  Knyphausen's  forces;  abandoned  from  1779  to 
1782  as  too  exposed  to  American  attacks,  and  replaced  by  a  bridge  of 
boats  and  pontoons  further  west.  The  bridge  rebuilt  after  the 
Revolution  was  practically  on  the  present  lines,  except  that  it  was 
double,  having  a  flume  or  dyke  to  supply  water  to  Macomb's  grist 
and  marble  mills.    The  latter  were  destroyed  in  1856. 

The  ll\id{)ig  Place.  A  shallow  place  about  150  teet  west  of  the  bridge, 
first    used   as   a    ford    for   passengers    and  beasts. 

In   1673  ^  ferry  was  established  here  by  \'erveelen. 

Under  the  present  Broadway  bridge  was  a  little  marshy  island,  locally  known 
as  Gardener's  Island,  on  which  was  an  Indian  shell  heap. 

74.  Fori  Prince  Charles,  or  the  Charles  Redoubt,  at  the  corner 
of  ^Marble  Hill  Avenue  and  Two  Hundred  and  T\\  enty-cighth  Street, 
was  marked  in  1894  hy  a  flagpole  and  a  notice  board.  It  was  an 
earthwork  commenced  by  the  American  forces  in  the  summer  of 
1776  to  protect  the  bridge,  and  was  completed  by  the  Hessian  troops 
after  November,  1776.  Arother  small  fleche,  or  angular  redoubt, 
was  located  to  the  east,  on  Kingsbridge  Avenue. 

75.  Site  of  Hyatt's  Tavern,  built  and  opened  by  Jacob  Dyckman,  Jr.,  in  1763, 
soon  after  selling  McGown's  Pass  Tavern  (Section  I),  west  of  the  present 
Broadway,  exactly  opposite  the  Kingsbridge  Hotel  in  now  vacant  lots. 

76.  Farmer's  Bridge,  also  know^n  as  the  Dyckman,  Free,  or 
Queen's  Bridge,  built  in  1759  to  evade  the  tolls  at  the  King's  Bridge, 
on  Dyckman's  and  Vermilyea's  lands.  It  was  broken  down  by  the 
American  forces  while  retreating  from  Fort  Independence  in  Novem- 
ber, 1776;  restored  and  used  by  the  Hessians  in  landing  on  this 
island;  again  broken  in  1778,  on  account  of  the  American  attacks, 
and  later  restored.   Filled  in  and  covered  over  1912. 

77.  United  States  Ship  Canal,  established  and  constructed  by 
the  United  States  Government.  Before  it  was  cut  tnrough,  two  little 
brooks  ran  east  and  west  on  the  line  of  the  center  of  the  swing 
span  of  the  bridge.  These,  in  1817,  were  enlarged  into  a  little  canal 
by  the  owner,  Curtis  and  John  Bolton,  the  latter  an  Alderman  of 
New  York,  and  a  marble  mill  and  quarries  were  established  here  by 
them.  The  present  double-deck  swing  span  replaced  (1906)  the 
single  swing  span,  which  now  forms  part  of  the  Fordham  Manor 
Bridge  at  Two  Hundred  and  Seventh  Street. 

78.  The  Marble  Arch  w^as  built  in  recent  years  as  an  entrance 
to  the  Seaman,  now  the  Drake  Estate. 

79.  The  Twelfth  Milestone,  set  into  the  wall  of  the  entrance 
to  the  Isham  property,  at  Two  Hundred  and  Eleventh  Street.  Its 
original  position  was  about  One  Hundred  and  Ninetieth  Street. 

169 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


ROUTE  28a 

SIDE  TRIP  A.— COLONIAL  AND  REVOLUTIONARY  SITES 
EAST  OF  BROADWAY. 

(Figures  refer  to  Plates  XXI  and  XXXII). 

Take  the  old  Nagel  Lane  to  the  east,  or  the  recently  opened  Two 
Hundred  and  Fourteenth  Street  to 

80.  Colonial  Burying  Ground,  established  by  the  early  settlers, 
after  1677,  on  the  Nagel  property  and  placed  in  trust,  1807.  It  con- 
tains remains  of  the  Nagel,  Vermilyea,  Post,  Ryer  and  other  local 
families.  The  Dyckman  remains  were  removed  in  1905,  except  those 
of  Staats  Morris  Dyckman  and  family.  At  the  east  end  of  the 
graveyard,  small  stones  mark  the  graves  of  the  unknown  dead, 
tradition  says  of  the  Hessian  and  British  garrison,  1777-83.  From 
the  south  side  of  the  graveyard  the  remains  were  removed  in  1909 
to  widen  Two  Hundred  and  Twelfth  Street. 

81.  Site  of  the  Negro  Burying  Ground,  across  Tenth  Avenue,  between  Two 
Hundred  and  Eleventh  and  Two  Hundred  and  Twelfth  Streets,  for  the  slaves 
of  the  settlers, — it  contained  thirty-six  graves,  all  destroyed  by  excavation  in 
1902. 

82.  Indian  Ceremonial  Pits  were  located  on  Two  Hundred  and  Eleventh 
Street,  west  of  Tenth  Avenue.  They  were  opened  in  1904  and  found  to  con- 
tain the  remains  of  a  dog,  a  snake  and  a  turtle,  oyster  shells  ^nd  pottery, 
probably   used   in  a   ceremony  known   as   *'  The   White   Dog  Feast." 

Walk  east  to  Ninth  Avenue. 

83.  Site  of  the  "  Century  "  House,  burnt  down  1901,  entirely  removed  in  1907, 
stood  near  the  bank  of  the  Harlem,  in  the  line  of  Two  Eflundred  and  Thirteenth 
Street.  The  house  was  built  by  Jan  Nagel  (the  2d)  in  1735-6,  used  by  General 
William  Heath  as  headquarters  in  1776,  and  later  occupied  by  British  and 
Hessian  officers.  Buttons  of  an  officer  of  the  17th  Light  Dragoons  were  found 
here,  as  were  buttons  of  the  15th,  38th,  47th,  57th,  80th  and  of  the  Royal 
Provincial  Regiments,  also  Hessian  buttons,  Hanoverian  and  British  coins.  In 
front  of  the  house  the  remains  of  a  small  building  were  discovered  in  1906, 
with  military  e'  jects  (bayonets,  bar  shots,  bullets,  etc.),  showing  Revolutionary 
occupation.     It  was  possibly  the  original  settler's  house,  1677  to  1735.  *7 

Walk  south  along  the  river  hank  or  along  Ninth  Avenue  to  Two 
Hundred  and  Tenth  Street. 

84.  Site  of  the  Dyckman  House,  at  Two  hundred  and  Tenth  Street,  on  the 
bank  of  the  river,  used  during  the  Revolution  by  officers  of  the  British  troops, 
but    destroyed   or   abandoned   about  1781. 

Two  Hundred  and  Eleventh  Street  was  the  line  of  division  of  the  farms  of 
Nagel  and  Dyckman,  partitioned  in  1744;  it  also*  formed  the  north  boundary  of 
the  first  land  grant  of  this  district  to  Jansen  and  Aertsen  in  1647. 

85.  At  Two  Hu^^dred  and  Ninth  Street,  on  the  river  bank,  note  the  traces  of 
a  great  Indian  shell  heap.      Two  dog  burials  were  found  here. 

Continue  south  on   Ninth  Avenue. 

86.  FoRDHAM  Manor  or  Nf:w  York  University  Bridge. 

The  low  ground  here  on  the  Harlem  was  the  meadow  known  as  Myndert's 
Vly,  the  meadow  of  Meynard  Journee  whose  name  the  Dutch  changed  to 
Meyndert  Maljaart.  It  was  bought  from  him  in  1676  by  Nagel  and  held  by 
his  heirs,  although  in  the  middle  of  the  Dyckman  lands,  and  known  to,  modern 
tisnes  by  the  name  of  the  original  owner. 

87.  A  British  Camp  of  considerable  extent  existed  on  the  edge  of  the  bank 

170 


Sherman's  Creek  MANHATTAN  28a,  28b  Routes 

of  the  river,  between  Two  Hundredth  and  Two  Hundred  and  First  Streets  on 
a  site  now  entirely  covered  by  the  power  house  of  the  New  York  Edison  Corn- 
pa  nv. 

Here  was  a  group  of  military  buildings,  storehouses  or  officers'  huts.  Near 
the  remains  of  a  great  camp  fire,  numerous  military  objects,  including  many 
buttons  of  the  loth,  23d,  37th,  64th  and  Royal  Provincial  Regiments,  were 
found. 

Holland's  Ferry  across  the  Harlem  was  maintained  at  this  point,  to  connect 
with  Fort  No.  X'lII,  on  the  hill  just  south  of  the  Hall  of  Fame  (New  York 
University).  This  ferry  was  attacked  and  the  ropes  cut  by  the  American  forces 
in  the  raid  in   178 1. 

Walk  west  along  the  north  side  of 

88.  Sherman's  Creek,  known  by  the  Dutch  as  the  "Half  Kill," 
and  later  as  the  ''Round  Meadow  Creek"  (1811).  On  the  southeast 
bank  the  British  troops  landed  November  16,  1776,  to  assault  Laurel 
Hill  (Fort  George)   (53,  54). 

Walk  west  on  Academy  Street,  passing  through  the  Round  Meadow 
or  Ronde  Vly,  to  Broadzuay. 

89.  The  brook  running  from  Broadway  to  the  Creek  was  known  as  Pietcr 
Tuynier's  (the  gardener's)  Run,  or  Fall,  being  on  the  lands  allotted  at  a  very 
early  date  to  Pierre  Cresson. 


ROUTE  28b. 

SIDE  TRIP  B.— WEST  OF  BROADWAY  TO  COLD  SPRING.  ' 

From   Bn  oadzcay,  go  west  on  Academy  Street. 
Note. — If  Side  Trip  A  is  omitted,  continue  doz^'u  Broadzijay  from 
(79) J  passing  at  Hawthorne  Avenue  the  Dyckman  House  (98). 

90.  Indian  Village  and  British  Camp  of  the  17th  Regiment.  The  center  of 
this  large  camp  was  approximately  in  the  garden  between  Cooper  Street  and 
Seaman  Avenvie;  it  was  excavated  in  1907  and  the  numbered  buttons  of  many 
British  regiments  were  found.  Indian  pits  were  found,  some  being  ceremonial, 
and  several  Indian  human  burials  were  also  discovered  here  in  1907-08,  with 
many    aboriginal    weapons    and    stone  implements. 

Walk   south   around   Seaman   Avenue   to   Prescott  Avenue. 

91.  Site   of   British    Officers'    Quarters,    at    the    intersection    of    Seaman  and 
Prescott  Avenues.     Buttons  of  many  regiments  have  been  found  here. 

Above  RiefT's  Cottage  were  founS  the  remains  of  a  flagpole,  military  bake-  ^ 
ovens  and  other  indications  of  camp  life. 

U^alk  north   up  Prescott  Avenue. 

92.  Site  of  ijth  Regiment  Hut.  A  fireplace  (about  150  feet  north  of  Rieff's 
Cottage  on  the  west  side  of  Prescott  Avenue)  was  found  in  1904  and  marks 
one  of  the  huts  of  this  regiment  which  are  shown  in  Von  Krafft's  sketch  map  of 
1778.  The  regiment  moved  hence  to  Stony  Point  and  was  captured  there  July 
15-16,   1779,  by  the  American  troops  under  General  Anthony  Wayne. 

Walk  over  the  hill  and  down  the  into  the  wooded  valley  known  as 
the  Clove.    Follow  the  path  to  the  west  side  of  Manhattan 
along  the  shore  of  Spuyten  Duyvil  Creek  to 


Route  28  b 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Cold  Spring 


93.  The  Cold  Spring,  or  Spouting  Spring,  which  probably  gave 
its  name  to  the  Spuyten  Duyvil  Creek.  The  spring  is  now  piped 
to  a  spot  near  the  river,  but  originally  spouted  from  the  rocks.  The 
Indian  name  of  this  locaHty,  including  (as  they  generally  did) 
the  Creek  at  this  place,  was  Shora-kapkok,  which  may  be  trans- 
lated as  far  as  the  sitting-down  or  resting  place,"  probably  sig- 
nificant of  the  secluded  character  of  the  hollow,  undoubtedly  used 
for  a  long  period  of  time  by  the  aborigines  whose  large  palisaded 
village  (Nip-nich-sen)  occupied  the  summit  of  Spuyten  Duyvil  Hill 
opposite. 

Note  the  great  tree,  the  largest  tulip  on  the  Island  of  Manhattan, 
but  probabl}^  not  older  than  the  past  century,  6  1-2  feet  in  diameter, 
grown  through  an  Indian  shell  heap  which  extends  to  the  south.  *8 
Return  south  along  the  path  about  75  yards  thence  west  through 
the  woods  to  the 

94.  Indian  Rock  Dwelling,  discovered  by  Alexander  C.  Cheno- 
weth,  within  which  were  found  aboriginal  pottery,  tools,  bones,  etc., 
now  in  Case  I,  Indian  Room  of  the  American  Museum  of  Natural 
History,  evidencing  long  occupation  by  tribes,  antecedent  to  their 
scattering  by  the  Mohawk  Indians  in  1673.  In  the  rocks  ^^bove  was 
a  cache,  or  store  place,  and  below,  to  the  east,  under  a  large  rock, 
are  evidences  of  use  of  a  fireplace. 

95.  Cock  Hill.  The  hill  above  was  known  in  colonial  daj^s  as  Cock  Hill, 
possibly    shortened    from    Shora-kapkok,    corrupted,    in    Revolutionary    times,  to 

Cox's  Hill,"  confounded  with  the  name  of  the  Tory  innkeeper  of  Kings- 
bridge.  The  remains  of  an  American  fort,  enlarged  by  the  British  and  used  to 
1780,  were  once  on  the  land  of  James  iMcCreery,  but  are  not  now  discoverable. 

From  Cold  Spring  a  trail  leads  over  the  hill  to  the  Hudson  where 
may  be  seen  the  point  of  anchorage  of  Henry  Huds^on  in  September, 
1609,  and  of  the  first  encounter  with  the  natives  of  Nip-nich-sen  (see 
93). 

Returning  to  Broadway,  take  path  leading  to  Emerson  Street,  passing 

96.  Indian  Planting  Ground^  now  cultivated  land,  on  the  Isham  property  which 
has  yielded  many   Indian  objects  and  tools,   discovered  by  W.   L.   Calver. *9 

97.  Scene  of  Fighting  November  8-9,  1776.  This  entire  vale  was  the  scene 
of  a  skirmish  between  Pennsylvania  troops  and  the  Hessian  advance  guard, 
November  8-9,  1776,  and  was  also  the  line  of  march  of  the  center  division  of 
the  Hessian  army  advancing  against  Fort  Tryon  on  November  16,  1776,  under 
Baron  Knyphausei!;. 

Traces  of  Indian  camps  and  military  encampments  have  been  found  at  several 
places  in  this  vale. 

98.  Dyckman  Dwelling:  the  second,  or  perhaps  third,  Dyck- 
man  house,  built  in  1787,  probably  with  materials  from  the  older 
houses;  it  gives  a  good  idea  of  the  appearance  of  colonial  farm 
dwellings,  being  much  like  the  Century  House.  See  old  chimney 
on  the  south  side, 

172 


MANHATTAN 


ADDENDA,  1912 

*i  (p.  148).  This  is  now  used  for  a  Sunday-school  and  parish  build- 
ing, the  bell  having  been  removed  to  the  new  church  structure  at  Lenox 
Avenue  and  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-third  Street. 

In  Cowperthwait's  store  at  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-first  Street  and 
Third  Avenue  may  be  seen  an  interesting  collection  of  prints  of  Old 
New  York. 

A  good  view  of  the  Harlem  Kills  and  neighboring  islands  may  be 
obtained  from  the  Willis  Avenue  bridge. 

*2  (p.  151).  The  Historical  Museum  of  the  City  College  contains  a 
collection  of  rare  prints  and  maps  of  old  New  York.  On  the  wall  is 
a  tablet,  erected  in  1908  by  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution  to  record  the 
occupation  of  the  Heights  by  the  American  army  after  the  battle  of 
Harlem  Heights. 

*3  (p-  15 0-  Fountain  and  Light  Tower  at  Edgecombe  Avenue  and 
One  Hundred  and  Fifty-fifth  Street,  erected  in  1894  by  bequest  of 
George  Hooper  of  Brooklyn. 

Tablet  in  the  wall  of  the  kiosk  or  pergola  on  Riverside  Drive  at 
One  Hundred  and  Fifty-first  Street,  erected  in  1912  in  memory  of  the 
U.  S.  sailors  of  the  Neiv  Hampshire  who  were  drowned  in  the  Hudson 
in  1909. 

*4  (p.  151).  Fountain  and  memorial  tablet  at  the  west  end  of  Wash- 
ington Bridge,  Amsterdam  Avenue,  between  One  Hundred  and  Eighty- 
first  and  One  Hundred  and  Eighty-second  Street,  erected  T912  in  mem- 
ory of  Andrew  Jackson  by  the  National  Society  U.  S.  Daughters  of 
1812,  Andrew  Jackson  Chapter. 

*5  (p-  165).  In  1910  a  boulder  monument  was  erected  here  by  the 
Fort  Washington  Chapter,  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution.  It 
bears  the  words,  ''American  Redout  1776." 

*6  (p.  167).  Mt.  Washington  Presbyterian  Church,  at  Dyckman 
Street  and  Broadway,  was  built  in  1844-46  at  Tubby  Hook;  this  name 
was  derived  either  from  Peter  Ubrccht,  one  of  the  Dyckman  family,  or 
from  the  earlier  Indian  name  Ubiquacs,  as  in  the  deed  of  1649. 

Public  School  No.  52  on  Broadway  at  Academy  Street  was  opened 
April,  1858,  on  land  given  by  Isaac  Dyckman  ;  the  nearest  school  then 
'was  No.  31,  at  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-sixth  Street,  but  there  had  been 
the  Hamilton  Free  School  (1820- 1853,  burned)  near  One  Hundred  and 
Eighty-seventh  Street  on  the  Kingsbridge  Road. 

173 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


*7  (p.  i/O).  See  painting  in  the  Union  League  Club,  'Tassing  the 
Outpost,"  by  A.  Wordsworth  Thompson,  the  scene  being  at  the  Century 
House. 

*8  (p.  172).  The  tulip  tree  has  been  surrounded  by  an  iron  railing 
and  the  great  cavities  filled  with  cement  by  the  Park  Department.  An 
inscription  was  placed  on  it  in  1912  stating  the  age  of  the  tree,  its  size 
and  the  history  of  the  region. 

*9  (p.  172). 

THE  HISTORICAL  ASSOCIATIONS  OF  ISHAM  PARK 
By  Reginald  Pelham  Bolton 

The  land  occupies  a  hill  on  the  west  side  of  the  Kingsbridge  Road 
commanding  views  of  the  Dyckman  tract,  In  wood  Hill,  the  Cold  Spring 
hollow  and  Spuyten  Duyvil  Creek. 

This  was  a  favorite  haunt  of  the  Indian  local  tribe,  the  Weck-quas- 
keeks,  as  shown  by  many  evidences  of  their  existence  in  its  vicinity: 
human  remains  disinterred  on  the  south  margin  of  the  Park  at  Isham 
Street,  ceremonial  dog  burials  at  Cooper  Street  and  numerous  stone 
objects,  tools  and  weapons. 

These  and  other  historical  objects  are  on  exhibition  in  one  of  the 
rooms  of  the  Isham  Mansion  set  apart  for  the  purpose. 

The  land  now  comprising  Isham  Park  was  part  of  that  granted  in  the 
year  1640  to  Tobias  Teunissen,  a  native  of  Amsterdam  and  a  w^ool- 
washer  by  occupation.  With  his  wife  and  three  children  he  occupied  a 
little  home  in  this  immediate  neighborhood  among  the  Indians  who 
then  frequented  it.  Teunissen  fell  a  victim  to  Indian  vengeance  on  the 
white  colorbts  in  September,  1665,  and  his  family  was  carried  into 
captivity. 

In  1677  the  land  north  of  a  boundary  on  the  line  of  Two  Hundred 
and  Eleventh  Street  was  purchased  by  Jan  Nagel. 

In  November,  1776,  the  Hessian  Army  erected  on  the  highest  part  of 
the  Park  two  redoubts ;  a  sharp  encounter  took  place  on  November  8th, 
when  the  Pennsylvania  troops,  advancing  from  the  woods  of  Inwood 
Hill,  drove  in  the  Hessian  outposts  and  fired  their  quarters;  the  entire 
Hessian  division  moved  over  the  Park  area,  when,  on  November  16, 
1776,  the  assault  upon  Fort  Washington  was  made. 

The  present  Isham  residence  was  built  by  the  Ferris  family  before 
1862,  and  was  purchased  in  1864  by  William  B,  Isham.  He  laid  out 
the  grounds,  during  which  he  disturbed  many  relics  of  the  military 
occupation. 

174 


MANHATTAN 


In  191 1  the  park,  then  comprising  more  than  six  acres,  was  presented 
by  Mrs.  Julia  Isham  Taylor  to  the  city  to  be  named  in  memory  of  her 
father,  William  B.  Isham.  In  order  to  protect  the  park  and  preserve 
the  view  of  In  wood  Hill  and  of  the  Palisades  of  the  Hudson,  an  ad- 
dition of  several  acres  was  acquired  and  given  in  1912  by  Miss  Flora 
E.  Isham. 

Some  of  the  most  picturesque  portions  of  Inwood  hill  will  become  a 
park,  thus  preserving  the  natural  features  of  its  original  forest  and  its 
historical  remains.    (Route  28b.)    For  a  discussion  of  the  name  Sf^uytcn  ■ 
Diiyvil  see  the   191 1   Report  of  the  American   Scenic  and  Historic 
Preservation  Society. 

The  mansion  is  a  brick  and  frame  building  of  peculiar  shape,  having 
four  wings  extending  from  a  central  circular  hall  and  stairway. 

It  is  in  excellent  preservation  and  has  been  arranged  by  the  present 
Park  Commissioner.  Hon.  Charles  B.  Stover,  as  a  public  building, 
with  conveniences  for  the  use  of  the  public,  and  a  nursery  for  the 
mothers  and  children. 

One  of  the  upper  parlors  is  devoted  to  the  use  of  The  City  History 
Club  as  a  country  meeting  and  exhibition  room. 

Alongside  this  room  is  the  mu-eum  of  local  antiquities,  discovered, 
prepared  and  loaned  by  Reginald  Pelham  Bolton  and  William  L. 
Calver,  which  includes  Indian  objects.  Colonial  and  Revolutionary  re- 
mains from  the  Dyckman  tract  and  Isham  Park.  There  is  also  a  very 
interesting  exhibit  of  Indian  weapons  and  articles  collected  by  the  late 
W.  B.  Isham,  indicating  his  interest  in  the  historical  subjects  for  which 
his  old  home  is  now  in  part  utilized. 

One  of  the  objects  of  local  interest,  preserved  by  the  care  of  the  late 
William  B.  Isham,  is  the  Twelfth  Milestone  on  the  old  Kingsbridge 
Road,  which  he  secured  and  placed  in  the  wall  of  the  present  Park  at 
the  entrance  to  its  beautiful  driveway.  This  stone  stood  originally 
about  a  mile  south  of  its  present  site,  near  One  Hundred  and  Ninety- 
second  Street,  from  which  position  it  was  removed  northwards  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile  about  1819,  when  the  present  City  Hall  was  made  ^ 
the  point  from  which  the  distances  were  measured. 

The  City  History  Club  is  now  the  designated  custodian  of  these 
milestones,  and  it  has  prepared  a  tablet  marking  this  stone.  (See 
Appendix  A.) 


174a 


PART  TWO 


BOROUGH   OF  THE  BRONX 
EXCURSION  IX— ROUTES  29-34^. 
By  Randall  Comfort. 

Copyright,  1906,  by  the  City  History  Club  of  New  York. 
Revised  1910  and  1912. 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


HISTORICAL  SKETCH  OF  THE  BRONX 

The  Borough  of  the  Bronx  derives  its  name  from  its  first  white 
settler,  Jonas  Bronck,  who  made  his  home  near  the  Bronx  Kills  in 
1639  (50,  p.  195).  His  house,  which  he  styled  Emmaus,  was  the  scene 
of  the  signing  of  the  Treaty  of  Peace  with  the  Indian  Sachems  in 
1642,  and  stood  close  to  that  stream  which  was  named  in  his  honor 
^'Bronc'k's  River" — a  name  that  we  now  spell  Bronx. 

Many  Indians  of  the  Mohican  nation,  Suwanoy  (Sewanoe)  tribe 
and  Weekquaskeek  local  tribe  made  this  Borough  their  home  and 
hunting  ground,  dwelling  on  the  shores  of  the  Hudson,  the  Sound 
and  the  Harlem  River.  They  have  left  various  Indian  names  behind 
them,  such  as  Aqueanounck  (Aquahung),  Quinnahoung,  Kekeshick, 
Muscoota,  Laaphawachking,  Mosholu.  Many  titles  date  back  to  early 
purchases  from  Indian  sachems. 

The  earliest  Dutch  community  settled  was  probably  in  1654,  at  old 
Westchester  Village.  The  English  soon  followed,  some  of  the  first 
titles  being  granted  by  Gov.  Nicolls.  Among  the  best  known  are 
Thomas  Cornell,  at  Clason's  Point ;  John  Throckmorton,  at  Throgg's 
Neck ;  and  Thomas  Pell  and  Ann  Hutchinson,  amid  the  wilds  around 
Pelham  Bay.  Other  early  settlers  include  Daniel  Turneur,  near  High 
Bridge;  John  Archer,  at  Fordham  Heights:  Van  Der  Donck,  at  Van 
Cortlandt,  and  Jessup  and  Richardson,  at  Hunt's  Point. 

The  Revolution  brought  into  prominence  another  noted  family — the 
Morrises.  Lewis  Morris  was  a  member  of  the  Continental  Congress 
and  a  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence ;  Richard  was  a  Sena- 
tor;  Gouverneur  a  Representative  in  the  Provincial  Congress  and  later 
an  envoy  to  France.  Lewis  Morris  afiixed  his  name  to  that  famous 
document,  although  he  knew  that  a  British  fleet  was  anchored  close  to 
his  home  in  the  lower  Bronx.  An  attempt  was  once  made  to  have 
Congress  choose  Morrisania  as  the  capital  of  the  United  States  instead 
of  placing  it  on  the  Potomac.  Many  Revolutionary  scenes  were  enacted 
in  this  borough,  and  a  full  quota  of  its  residents  went  forth  to  serve  in 
defence  of  their  country's  rights.  The  dreaded  Neutral  Ground 
extended  from  King's  Bridge  up  to  and  beyond  the  Yonkers  line.  Pel- 
ham  Bay  Park  saw  the  Battle  of  Pell's  Point  (Sec.  VI),  and  West- 
chester Village  may  well  boast  of  the  Battle  of  Westchester  Creek 
(Sec.  V).  Other  sections  could  also  tell  of  individual  engagements  wi4h 
the  King's  forces. 

The  early  and  middle  portions  of  the  nineteenth  century  brought 
great  changes.  Fruitful   farm  lands  produced  their  abundant  crops. 

176 


THE  BRONX 


Then  came  wealthy  business  men,  who  located  here  their  country 
estates  and  whose  mansions  are  yet  to  be  found  in  many  nooks,  despite 
the  northward  advance  of  the  city.  The  nineteenth  century  brought 
with  it  also  two  poets  of  world-wide  fame — Joseph  Rodman  Drake, 
whose  tomb  still  stands  at  Hunt's  Point,  and  Edgar  Allan  Poe,  whose 
Fordham  cottage  is  still  a  familiar  landmark. 

The  year  1874  saw  the  western  portion  of  the  borough  annexed 
to  New  York  City,  and  in  1895  the  remainder  was  added.  Bronx 
Borough  to-day  (1912),  a  large  part  of  which  was  purchased  in  early 
days  for  "2  gunns,  2  kettles,  2  coats,  2  adzes,  2  shirts,  i  barrel  of  cider 
and  6  bitts  of  money,"  is  a  community  of  over  500,000  sor.ls,  ranking 
with  such  cities  as  Detroit,  Milwaukee  or  Washington,  or  equivalent  in 
population  with  the  whole  State  of  New  Hampshire.  In  191 2- 13  it  was 
erected  into  the  County  of  the  Bronx  by  a  State  law  following  a 
referendum  vote. 

Countless  six-story  apartments  have  sprung  from  suburban  fields 
and  meadows  as  if  by  the  hand  of  magic.  The  borough's  parks,  over 
4,000  acres  in  extent,  are  its  special  pride, — the  Zoological  Park  and 
the  Botanical  Gardens  in  particular  being  unrivalled  throughout  the 
world. 

Thus  we  have  briefly  reviewed  the  30,000  acres  of  hill  and  plain  that 
are  rapidly  merging  into  that  wonderful  city  which  is  so  proud  to  style 
itself  "the  Metropolis  of  America." 


177 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


THE  BRONX 


THE  BRONX 

Bibliography. 

"  History  of  Westchester  County,"  Bolton. 
**  History  of  Westchester  County,"  Scharf. 
"  History  of  Westchester  County,"  Shonard. 

History  of  Bronx  Borough,  New  York  City,"  Comfort. 
"  History  of   Kingsbridge,"  Edsall. 
"  History  of  Yonkers,"  Allison. 
*'The  Old  Post  Road,"  Hine. 

"Historic  New  York"  (Paper  on  "The  Neutral  Ground"). 
"Battle  of  Pell's  Point,"  Abbott. 
"  The  Spy,"  Cooper. 

Reminiscences  of  an  Old  Westchester  Homestead,"  Pryer. 
"  The  Borough  of  the  Bronx,"  Cook. 

"  Story  of  the  Borough  of  the  Bronx  of  the  City  of  New  York,"  and 
"A  Princess  and  Ano^er"  (Scene  at  Screven's  Point,  see  87,  p.  203), 
both  by  Lieut.  Stephen  Jenkins. 

The  *  refers  to  Addenda,  1912,  pp.  183,  198,  202,  204  and  215. 


179 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Plate  XXXIV.    Routes  29,  29a,  29b 


IVoiii  Kingsbridge  north  the  section  including  Yonkers  was  in  Revolutionary 
day.-,  t.mied  the  Neutral  Ground,  the  scene  of  numerous  ravages  by  irregular 
bands  known  as  Cowboys  and  Skinners,  who  committed  such  lawless  depreda- 
tions thai  many  of  the  residents  were  forced  into  temporary  exile. 


THE  BRONX 


ROUTE  29 

SECTION  L— KINGSBRIDGE  TO  VAN  CORTLANDT  PARK 

(Figures  refer  to  Plates  XXXIV  and  XXXVI) 

Take  Broadzvay  Subway  to  Two  Hundred  and  Forty-second  Street, 
passing  on  the  right,  at  225th  Street,  site  of  okl  Free  Bridge  (1759) 
(76,  p.  169),  and  on  the  left,  at  230th  Street,  old  King's  Bridge 
(73,  p.  168),  and  further  west,  the  Tippett  Mansion  (i  on  Plate 
XXXIV;  see  bottom  p.  185);  at  230th  Street,  the 

2.  Macomb  Mansion,  on  the  Bronx  mainland,  faces  the  Broad- 
way Bridge.  In  1693  this  was  known  as  the  public  house  "  at  the 
north  end  of  the  bridge,"  and  in  1776  as  Cox's  Tavern.  It  was  bought 
by  Alexander  Macomb  in  1797,  who  built  nearby  in  1800  the  first 
Macomb's  Dam  (see  25),  and  in  1848  was  sold  to  the  late  J.  H.  God- 
win.   Parts  still  show  its  great  age. 

At  Kingsbridge  the  old  Post  Roa^  from  New  York  divided,  the  Albany  Post 
Road  (1669),  now  Albany  Road,  'eading  northward  to  Van  Cortlandt,  Yonkers 
and  Albany,  while  the  Boston  Post  Road  (1672)  led  northeast  over  Williams- 
bridge  through  Eastchester  and  New  Rochelle  to  Boston.  The  Kingsbridge 
Road  extended  southeast  up  Breakneck  Hill  to  West  Farms  and  Westchester, 
passing  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  the  old  houce  still  called  Emmerich's  Head- 
quarters, after  the  colonel  of  the  Hessians  who  had  their  extensive  camp  on 
the  premises.    See  2  a,  Plate  XXX\^I. 

Enter  Van  Cortlandt  Park  and  walk  through 

3.  The  Dutch  Garden,  south  of  the  mansion,  surrounded  by 
a  moat.  One  of  the  stones  of  the  old  mill  forms  the  base  for 
the  pedestal  of  a  sun-dial. 

4.  Van  Cortlandt  Mansion,  now  a  museum  in  the  care  of  the 
Colonial  Dames,  built  in  1748  (see  inscription  on  walls)  by  Fred- 
erick Van  Cortlandt.  See  tablet  on  the  southeast  corner.  Note 
the  quaint  key-stones  over  the  windows,  probably  brought  from 
Holland.  Here  were  entertained  Washington,  Rochambeau,  the 
Duke  of  Clarence  (later  King  William  the  Fourth)  and  others. 
During  the  Revolution  this  structure  was  the  headquarters  for 
the  Hessian  Jaegers.  In  one  of  the  rooms  Captain  Rowe,  of  the 
Pruicsbank  Jaegers,  expired  in  the  arms  of  his  bride-elect,  hav- 
ing been  mortally  wounded  in  an  engagement  with  the  patriots 
in  the  Tippett  Valley.  Here  Washington  stayed  over  night  in 
1781  previous  to  leaving  for  Yorktown,  and  again  on  November 
12,  1783,  before  crossing  King's  Bridge  to  enter  New  York, 

See  guide-book,  to  be  obtained  from  the  custodian, 

181 


Route  29  HISTORICAL    GUIDE         Van  Cortlandt 

5.  The  Rhinelander  Sugar  House  Window  is  just  northeast 
of  the  mansion  (see  inscription).  It  was  presented  by  J.  T.  O. 
Rhinelander  in  1903,  and  was  formerly  part  of  the  old  sugar 
house  in  Rose  and  Duane  Street.  (Excursion  1:46).  This  is  flanked 
by  two  cannon  from  Fort  Independence  (see  34). 

6.  The  Statue  of  Major-General  Josiah  Porter  is  behind  the 
Mansion;  it  was  presented  by  the  National  Guard,  State  of  New 
York,  in  1902. 

10.  The  Parade  Ground,  military  camping  place,  lies  to  the  north.  It  is 
the  site  of  Van  der  Donck's  Planting  Field  (1653)  where  he  located  his  bouw- 
erie,  secured  by  purchase  from  the  Indians  and  grant  from  Governor  Kieft,  and 
about  1650  built  a  house  near  the  site  of  the  first  \'an  Cortlandt  house  (8). 
Later  his  lands  were  called  Colendonck,  or  Donck's  Colony. 

Go  east,  then  south,  on  Path  to 

7.  The  site  of  Van  Cortlandt  Saw  and  Grist  Mills  (1700)  at  the  west  end 
of  the  bridge  over  the  dam.  These  mills  were  in  use  for  over  two  hundred 
years;  they  were  struck  by  lightning  and  burned  in  1901,  and  the  picturesque 
ruins  were  later  removed;  one  of  the  millstones  is  still  to  be  seen  near  the  west 
side  of  the  Mansion. 

8.  The  site  of  the  original  Van  Cortlandt  House  (1700)  and  the  Van  Der 
Donck  House  (1650).  Adrian  Der  Donck,  the  first  white  settler,  came  here 
about  1650,  built  his  house  and  established  his  botiwerie  (see  10).  His  vast 
estates  were  known  as  the  Yonk-Herr's  (Young  Gentleman's)  land,  whence  the 
name  of  Yonkers. 

9.  The  Berrian  Burying-Ground,  between  the  mansion  and  the 
lake.  Further  east  was  the  negro  burying  ground,  where  the 
slaves  of  the  early  owners  were  interred.  Across  the  lake  may 
be  seen  the  extensive  golf  links  of  Van  Cortlandt  Park. 

Van  Cortlandt  Lake  was  made  in  1700  by  throwing  an  em- 
bankment across  Tippett's  Brook,  the  Mosholu  of  the  Indians. 

Follow  the  railway  embankment  to  the  north,  cross  the  road  and  take 
ro'.gh  path  beyond  over  the  track  and  to  the  top  of 

11.  Vault  Hill  and  the  Van  Cortlandt  Burial  Vault.  In  1776 
Augustus  Van  Cortlandt,  then  City  Clerk,  carried  the  records  of 
New  York  City  up  here  and  hid  them  in  this  vault  where  they 
were  preserved  during  the  Revolution.  In  1781  Washington 
built  camp  fires  on  this  hill  to  deceive  the  British,  while  he  was 
withdrawing  his  troops  to  Yorktown.    About  a  mile  northeast  is 

12.  Indian  Field,  on  the  Mile  Square  Road,  Woodlawn  Heights, 
which  was  the  scene,  August,  1778,  of  a  battle  between  the  British 
cavalry  and  a  small  party  of  Stockbridge  Indians  fighting  on  behalf 
of  the  patriots.  At  Two  Hundred  and  Thirty-seventh  Street  and 
Mt.  Vernon  Avenue  an  impressive  cairn  of  stones  and  a  tablet  have 
been  erected,  inscribed  as  follows : 

182 


Park 


THE  BRONX 


29  Route 


Upon  this  Field,  August  31,  1778,  Chief  Nimham  and  Seventeen 
Stockbridge  Indians,  Allies  of  the  Patriots, 
Gave  their  Lives  for  Liberty. 

Erected  by  Bronx  Chapter,  D.  A.  R.,  of  Mount  Vernon,  N.  Y. 

June  14th,  1906. 

N.  B. — This  may  be  reached  with  less  walking  by  taking  the  Jerome  Avenue 
trolley  from  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-fifth  Street  and  Central  Bridge  to  Two 
Hundred  and  Thirty-third  Street;  go  east  to  Mount  Vernon  Avenue  and  north 
to  Two  Hundred  and  Thirty-seventh  Street. 

Follow  the  Colonial  Lane  north  for.  a  short  distance  to  reach  the  old  bridge 
where  the  fight  between  the  Indians  and  the  British  began. 

N.  B. — This  tablet  was  removed  by  vandals,  July  14,  1912. 

ADDENDA,  1912 
ROUTES  29a,  29b,  30 

*i  (p.  184).  Just  south  are  the  early  church  and  school  buildings 
of  Mosholu. 

*2  (p.  185).  This  oak  is  in  the  Seton  Hospital  grounds.  In  private 
grounds  north,  facing  the  Hudson,  is  a  quaint  old  cottage,  once  stand- 
ing on  Canal  Street.  It  was  floated  through  the  early  canal  and  brought 
in  sections  up  the  Hudson  to  its  present  site. 

*3  (p.  185).  24,  a  stone  building,  is  now  known  as  the  Johnson 
residence ;  it  is  on  Nipinichsen  Terrace,  near  the  Parkway. 

In  the  wall  of  the  Muschenheim  house  see  the  tablet,  erected  by 
Wm.  C.  Aluschenheirn  in  1910  to  commemorate  Fort  No.  i.  For  full 
account  of  these  forts  see  191 1  Report  of  the  American  Scenic  and 
Historic  Preservation  Society.  Near  it  stands  the  Hudson  Monu- 
ment, erected  1909-1912,  by  the  Henry  Hudson  Monument  Committee  of 
the  Bronx  Citizens'  Hudson-Fulton  Celebration  Commission.  The 
fluted  column  was  designed  by  Walter  Cook;  the  figure  of  Hudson  by 
Karl  Bitter,  and  the  two  bronze  tablets  by  Henry  M.  Shrady. 

*4  (p.  187).  This  may  be  reached  by  the  138th  St.  trolley;  walk 
up  Gerard  Ave.   from  138th  St. 

*5  (p.  189).  See  on  the  left,  south  of  Tremont  Ave.,  the  Lewis  G. 
Morris  Mansion,  built  about  1830;  note  the  stone  tower  and  arched 
portico.  North  of  it  stands  the  Messiah  Home  for  Children,  the  gift 
of  the  late  H.  H.  Rogers. 

*6  (p.  189).  In  1909  a  bronze  bust  of  Robert  Fulton  on  a  pedestal 
of  Conemara  marble  was  placed  above  his  tablet.  In  1910  eleven  more 
names  were  chosen  by  the  Senate  for  places  in  the  Hall  of  Fame.  (For 
full  account  of  the  origin  of  and  procedure  for  securing  places  in  the 
Hall  of  Fame,  and  for  a  full  list  of  the  tablets,  see  1908,  191 1,  1912 
Reports  of  the  American  Scenic  and  Historic  Preservation  Society.) 

183 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


ROUTE  29a. 

SIDE  TRIP  A.— TWO  HUNDRED  AND  FORTY-SECOND 
STREET  TO  YONKERS. 
From  the  Subway  station  go  north  and  take  road  on  left  running 
north  (Newton  Avenue,  part  of  the  old  Post  Road), 
passing  on  the  left 

13.  The  15th  Milestone,  recently  reset  by  the  City  History 
Club.  Note  that  this  stone  has  the  stonemason's  name  graven  on 
its  face.    About  400  paces  north  is  the  *i  (p.  183). 

14.  Van  Cortlandt's  Miller's  House,  a  white  house  built  for 
the  miller  of  the  old  estate.    Further  along,  on  the  left,  is 

15.  The  Hadley  House,  partly  of  wood  unpainted  and  partly 
of  stone  covered  with  vines.  It  probably  antedates  the  Van  Cort- 
landt  Mansion.  It  is  said  to  have  given  shelter  more  than  once 
to  Washington,  and  to-day  stands  on  a  60  acre  farm.  In  the  ad- 
joining woods  many  relics  have  been  found,  including  old  Eng- 
lish muskets,  and  an  Indian  skeleton  in  a  sitting  posture,  holding 
a  small  child's  skeleton  in  its  arms.  Tradition  says  that  slaves 
were  kept  in  the  old  stone  room  in  the  south  wing  of  the  house. 
Just  above,  north  of  Riverdale  Lane,  is  the  Samler  House,  the 
older  portion  dating  back  to  the  Revolution. 

Go  east  to  Broadway  and  take  car  to  Valentine  Lane.   Walk  west  to 
Hawthorne  Avenue,  passing  remains  of 

17.  Washington's  Chestnut,  a  gigantic  tree  over  two  centuries 
old.  A  tradition  relates  that  Washington  used  this  tree  as  a  place 
of  observation. 

18.  The  Lawrence  House,  at  the  corner  of  Hawthorne  Avenue. 
Washington  stopped  here  and  this  is  probably  the  house  which 
was  given  to  Lawrence  as  a  reward  for  his  services  as  guide. 

Go  east  on  Valentine  Lane  and  south  on  Riverdale  Avenue. 

16.  The  home  of  Clara  Morris,  gate  over  the  Yonkers  line. 
Go  west  on  Two  Hundred  and  Sixty- first  Street  and  take  H.  R.  R.  R. 

train  from  Mt.  St.  Vincent. 

19.  Font  Hill,  the  actor  Forrest's  old  home  (named  for  a 
former  owner,  La  Font),  is  a  stone  castle  with  six  towers  within 
the  spacious  grounds  of  Mt.  St.  Vincent  Academy. 

Below  Riverdale  Station  is 

20.  The  former  home  of  Mark  Twain,  Sycamore  Avenue  and 
Two  Hundred  and  Fifty-third  Street,  one  block  north  of  which 
is  the  Morosini  Mansion,  home  of  tlie  late  banker.  It  contains  a  fine 
collection  of  ancient  armor. 

184 


THE  BRONX 


ROUTE  29b. 

SIDE  TRIP  B.— WESTERN  BRONX. 

From  Tzvo  Hundred  and  Forty-second  Street,  go  west  on  Spuyten 
Diiyvil  Parkway  to  Dash's  Lane  on  which  see 

21.  The  Gardener's  Cottage,  near  Two  Hundred  and  Thirty- 
eighth  Street  and  Greystone  Avenue,  built  in  1766  by  Frederick 
Van  Cortlandt.    A  Jaeger  camp  was  here  during  the  Revohition. 


22.  Upper  Cortlandt's,  or  Van  Cortlandt's  on  the  Hill,  to  dis- 
tinguish it  from  the  house  on  the  meadow  below;  the  Stone 
House  w^as  built  in  1822  by  Augustus  Van  Cortlandt  and  later 
owned  by  Waldo  Hutchins.  Further  west,  near  Spuyten  Duyvil 
Parkway,  in  private  property  at  the  end  of  Two  Hundred  and 
Thirty-seventh  Street,  is  the 

23.  Cowboy  Oak  where  tradition  says  Cowboys  were  hanged 
during  the  Revolution.  *2  (p.  183). 

24.  The  Berrian  Farmhouse,  at  the  point  of  Berrian's  Neck, 
commanding  a  magnificent  view  of  the  Hudson.  See  Cold  Spring 
across  Spuyten  Duyvil  Creek  (Excursion  IV:93).  See  also  sites 
of  Forts  Nos.  One,  Two  and  Three.  *3  (p.  183). 

No.  One  forms  the  foundation  of  W.  C.  Muschenheim's  house,  Spuyten  Duyvil 
Hill,  west  of  the  junction  of  Sydney  Street  and  Independence  Avenue. 

In  his  residence  are  cannonballs  taken  from  the  bank  around  the  house, 
and  Indian  shells  from  aboriginal  pits  discovered  in  1909  under  the  lawn  in 
front  of  the  house. 

No.  Two,  or  Fort  Swartwout;  crown  of  hill,  northeast  of  intersection  of 
Sydney    and    Troy  Streets. 

No.  Three,  brow  of  Spuyten  Duyvil  Hill,  north  of  Sydney  and  east  of  Troy 
Street. 

Under  Spuyten  Duyvil  Hill  is  the  site  of  the  Indian  Village  of  Nipinichsen, 
from  which  Indians  came  who  attacked  Hudson  in  1O09. 

Under  the  hill,  west  of  Riverdale  Avenue,  is  the  Tippett  Man- 
sion, the  home  of  the  family  for  which  Tippett's  Brook  was 
iKimtd  (at  J30th  Street;  see  i,  Plate  XXX  1\'). 

J85 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


THE  BRONX 


ROUTE  30. 

SECTION  II— CENTRAL  BRIDGE  TO  UNIVERSITY 
HEIGHTS. 

(Figures  refer  to  Plates  XXXV  and  XXXVI). 
Take  Sixth  or  Ninth  Elevated  Road  to  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-fifth 
Street  and  Jerome  Avenue  car  across  Central  Bridge  and 
north  on  Jerome  Avenue,  at  first  following 
the  line  of  the  old  Macomb's  Dam  Road. 

25.  Central  Bridge  is  practically  on  the  site  of  the  old  Macomb's  Dam 
Bridge,  near  which  was  the  old  Macomb  Dam,  _  making  a  pond  out  of  the 
Harlem  to  supply  the  Macomb  Mill  at  Kingsbridge.  The  dam  was  broken 
down  by  a  delegation  of  citizens  about  1840  and,  being  declared  a  public  nui- 
sance, was  finally  abandoned. 

A  mile  to  the  southeast,  reached  by  walking  east  on  One  Hundred 
and  Sixty-first  Street  and  south  on  Gerard  Avenue  is 

26.  The  Francis  Mansion,  at  One  Hundred  and  Forty-sixth 
Street  and  Gerard  Avenue,  built  about  1830  by  Captain  Francis,  in- 
ventor of  the  metallic  life  saving  boats.  He  was  offered  knight- 
hood by  Queen  Victoria  and  other  honors  by  Germany,  and  finally 
received  in  his  own  country  the  ''thanks  of  Congress."  The  old  Dutch 
oven  is  still  in  the  basement.  *4  (p.  183). 

Near  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-sixth  Street  the  car  passes  on  the 
right  the  site  of  the 

27.  Cromwell  Farmhouse,  built  150  years  ago,  lying  at  the  head 
of  Cromwell's  Creek,  where  the  wild  geese  gathered  in  such  flocks  at 
night  that  sleep  was  almost  impossible. 

On  the  high  ground  to  ^he  west  is  the  27a,  Anderson  Mansion, 
almost  on  the  site  of  the  early  hom.e  of  Daniel  Turneur,  the 
original  patentee  of  Devoe's  Point  (about  1675.)  This  was  the 
ancient  Nuasin  of  the  Indians.  Jerome  Avenue  skirts  the  old  Woolf* 
Farm,  the  first  owner  of  which  came  over  with  the  Hessian  troops 
during  the  Revolution  and  settled  on  Cromwell's  Creek. 

Leave  car  at 

Featherbed  Lane,  so  called  because  it  was  extremely  rough 
and  stony  or  from  the  story  that  the  Americans,  surprised  by  the 
British,  were  rescued  by  the  ingenuity  of  the  farmers'  wives,  who 
spread  feather  beds  on  the  lane,  thus  enabling  them  to  escape 
without  being  heard. 

Walk  west  tn  Atacomb's  road,  one  of  the  oldest  roads  in  this  section, 

to  the 

187 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


N.  Y.  University 


THE  BRONX 


30  Route 


28.  Townsend  Poole  Cottage.  Note  the  date  of  erection,  1782, 
in  iron  figures  on  the  stone  wall,  reading  backwards.  In  this 
cottage  were  lodged  the  Esquimaux  brought  by  Lieutenant  Peary 
from  the  far  north. 

Walk  along  Featherbed  Lane  west  to  Marcher  (Shakespeare)  Avemi(^, 
then  down  to  Jessup  Place  to  the 

29.  DeVoe  Cottage,  built  in  1804,  one  of  the  landmarks  of  the 
region.  The  family  is  descended  from  the  Huguenot  family  of 
Devaux. 

Walk  down  Jessup  Place  to  Boscohel  Avenue,  then  north  to  Wash- 
ington Bridge,  from  the  middle  of  which  may  be  obtained  fine 
panoramic  views  north  and  south.  Take  Aqueduct  Avenue  car 
to  University  Avenue. "^S  (P-  i^3)- 

30.  New  York  University,  removed  here  from  Washington 
Square  in  1894  (Excursion  J  I,  Section  HI). 

The  Hall  of  Fame,  to  honor  great  Americans,  was  dedicated 
on  Memorial  Day,  1901,  wdien  the  first  29  tablets  were  unveiled. 
II  more  were  unveiled  in  1907.  Note  the  view  of  the  Dyckman 
and  Nagel  farms  in  Inwood  Valley  and  of  the  heights  of  Fort 
Washington.  There  is  a  small  historical  collection  in  the  Li- 
brary. *6  (p.  183). 

Tablet  to  mark  site  of  Fort  No.  Eight,  erected  in  1906  on  the- 
Chemistry  Buildii>g  by  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution.  The  Schwab 
mansion  is  within  the  site  of  the  fort.  (Refer  to  monograph  on 
"  Fort  No.  Eight "  by  Prof.  Schwab  of  Yale.)  At  the  old  stone 
Archer   House,  just  below,  Colonel  De  Lancey  of  the  Loyalist 

De  Lancey  Horse,"  had  his  headquarters,  while  the  nearby  Fort 
No.  Eight  was  occupied  by  the  Americans,  t 

The  site  of  Fort  No.  Seven  (no  trace)  is  at  Sedgwick  Ave.  and  Fordham 
Road. 

On  the  campus  is  a  monument  to  the  Founders  of  N.  Y.  Uni- 
versity (built  of  material  from  the  old  building). 

tA  stone  inscribed  ''Fort  Number  Eight,  1776-1783,"  stands  on  the^ 
prolongation  of  "Battery  Hill,"  80  yards  S.W.  of  the  Hall  of  Chem- 
istry.   This  marks  the  exact  location. 


189" 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


ROUTE  30a 

SIDE  TRIP  A.— TO  JEROME  PARK  RESERVOIR 
(Figures  refer  to  Plate  XXXVI) 

From  N.  Y.  University  take  Aqueduct  Avenue  trolley  north  to  Kings- 
bridge  Road,  passing 

31.  The  Webb  Shipbuilder's  Home  and  Academy,  fronting  on 
Sedgwick  Avenue.  In  front  of  it  is  a  figurehead  from  an  old  bark.  To 
the  north  rises  the  Roman  Catholic  Orphan  Asylum,  occupying  the 
site  of  Fort  No.  Five.  Fort  No.  Six  was  on  the  east  side  of  Aqueduct 
Avenue,  between  190th  and  1926.  Streets. 

32.  Fordham  Manor  Dutch  Reformed  Church,  Kingsbridge 
'Road  and  Aqueduct  Avenue,  the  successor  to  the  structure  of 
1706.  Virginia  Poe,  wife  of  the  poet,  was  first  buried  here.  The 
Poe  Cottage,  where  Edgar  Allan  Poe  and  his  wife  lived,  stands 
on  the  old  Kingsbridge  Road,  one-half  mile  east  (see  69).  The 
large  buildings  to  the  southwest  are  those  of  the  Roman  Catho- 
lic Orphan  Asylum. 

Go  north  on  Claflin  Terrace  along  the  west  side  of  Jerome  Park 
Reservoir,  300  acres  in  extent,  occupying  the  site  of  the 
Jerome  Park  Race  Track.   The  reservoir  has  obliterated 
the  sites  of  the  Betts  and  Bathgate  Houses. 

33.  Fort  No.  Four  (lately  restored  and  marked  by  a  fiag-pole), 
one  of  the  chain  of  forts  built  by  the  Americans  in  1776  to  command 
the  valley  below. 

King's  Redoubt  bet.  33  and  Kingsbridge  Road.  34.  Fort  Independence  (1776) 
The  site  of  this  fort  is  now  occupied  by  the  residence  of  \Vm.  O.  Giles,  on  Giles 
Place,  near  l^^ort  Independence  Street.  In  1772  General  Richard  Montgomery 
dwelt  in  this  section,  calling  it  his  King's  Bridge  Farm.  On  his  land  stood  until 
recently  the  ruins  of  a  Revolutionary  powder  magazine  known  as  Washington's 
Powder  House.    On  the  edge  of  the  hill  is  the 

35.  MOXTGOMFRY  COTT.XGK,  partly  destroyed  1909,  of  Dutch  architecture, 
at  ileath  Avenue  and  Fort  Independence  Street.  Across  the  old  Boston  Post 
Road  was  the  Farm  of  Dominie  Tctard,  Chaplain  to  General  Montgomery  and 
French  Interpreter  to  General  Schuyler,  his  house  dating  from  1776. 

Take  Sedgwick  Avenue  trolley  north  to  Subway  or  south  to  Third 
Avenue  Elevated,  or  continue  on  Route  30b. 

190 


THE  BRONX 


ROUTE  30b. 

SIDE  TRIP  B— WTLLIAMSBRIDGE  AND  WAKEFIELD. 

(Figures  refer  to  Plate  XXXVI  and  XXXVII). 

Take  Jerome  Avenue  trolley  to  Van  Cortlandt  Avenue  and  walk  east 
to  IVoodlawn  Road,  passing 

36.  The  Isaac  Varian  Homestead,  erected  in  1776,  the  old 
wing  (now  destroyed)  dating  from  1770.  An  encounter  between 
the  British  and  Americans  occurred  here  in  1776,  the  Continentals 
driving  their  foes  out  of  this  house  and  along  the  Boston  Post 
Road  to  Fort  Independence,  (see  old  graveyard  in  rear). 

Go  south  on  IVoodlawn  Road  to  Bainhridge  Avenue. 

37.  The  Church  of  the  Holy  Nativity,  built  into  the  walls  of 
which  are  three  old  tombstones,  two  of  the  Bussing  family  dated 
1751  and  one  of  the  Valenti^^e  family. 

At  JFebster  Avenue  take  IT  lute  Plains  Avenue  trolley, 
and  see  in  passing 

38.  The  Hermitage,  a  noted  French  restaurant.    This  locality 
is  the  scene  of   Hopkinson's   Smith's  "  A   Day  at   Laguerre's "  . 
and     Other  Days/', 

Continue  on  trolley  north  on  White  Plains  Road.     N'car  Williams- 
bridge  Square,  see  on  the  west 

39.  A  Revolutionary  House,  painted  red,  its  sides  full  of  holes 
made  by  British  bullets. 

Opposite  the  Catholic  church  is  the  site  of  the  old  Williams  House, 
the  home  of  the  family  after  which  Williamsbridge  is  named. 

40.  The  Hustace  House,  one  of  the  oldest  landmarks  of  the 
region,  Two  Hundred  and  Twenty-first  Street,  facing  an  old  white 
house  on  a  disused  lane.  ^ 

41.  The  Havens  House,  northeast  corner  of  Two  Hundred  and 
Twenty-second  Street,  very  old  and  containing  many  relics,  including 
the  mahogany  bedstead  on  which  Commodore  Perry  died.  It  is  said 
that  the  piano  now  in  Washington's  headquarters  at  Newburgh  was 
the  property  of  Mrs.  Havens  while  she  was  in  the  family  of 
Governor  Clinton,  by  whom  she  was  adopted.  On  the  corner 
of  Two  Hundred  and  Twenty-eighth  Street  stood  the  shingled  house, 
torn  down  in  1885,  used  for  a  time  by  Washington  as  headquarters.* 

191 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Woodlawn 


THE  BRONX 


30b  Route 


42.  Site  of  Pcnficld  Homestead,  once  standing  at  Two  Hun- 
dred and  Forty-second  Street,  east  of  White  Plains  Road,  over 
a  century  old.  See  quaint  inscriptions  on  the  old-fashioned  win- 
dows, hand  wrought  nails  and  timbers  and  Dutch  bricks  testify 
to  the  age  of  the  house.   Go  west  through  241st  St.  to  Webster  Ave. 

At  Demilt  Avenue  once  stood  the  Thirteen  Trees  planted  in  early  days  by  a 
relative  of  the  Paulding  who  helped  to  capture  Andre.  They  have  all  yielded 
to  the  onward  march  of  progress,  the  last  one,  a  black  walnut,  measuring  3 
feet  8  inches  at  the  butt,  having  been  cut  down  a  few  years  ago. 

Return  to  Baychester  Avenue  and  go  west  to  Webster  Avenue,  pass- 
ing, at  Baychester  and  Matilda  Avenues, 

43.  The  former  home  of  Adelina  Patti,  where  she  spent  part 
of  her  girlhood. 

44.  Washington's  Gun  House,  on  the  old  Hyatt  Farm,  west  of 
Webster  Avenue  and  just  below  the  car  barns.  Here  Washington 
is  said  to  have  stored  his  guns — hence  the  name  of  the  adjoin- 
ing settlement,  Washingtonville.f 

Take  Webster  Avenue  trolley  south,  passing 

Woodlawn  Cemetery.    Among  the  66,000  interments  are  those  of 

Admiral  Farragut  and  Lieutenant  De  Long.     The  Receiving  V^ault 

occupies  the  site  of  the  Valentine  Homestead.    In  the  southeast  corner 

of  the  cemetery  is  an  American  redoubt  thrown  up  by  American  troops 

under  General  Heath  (45). 

*This  was  while  Washington  was  retreating  toward  White  Plains.  He  left 
the  cannon  here  in  order  to  make  more  rapid  progress  and  thus  be  able  to 
make  a  better  stand  against  Howe  (see  100).  The  house  may  best  be  reached 
via  Harlem  Station  car  to  terminus,  thence  on  McLean  Avenue  car. 

f4ia.  The  Chateauneuf  Residence  on  the  south  side  of  Two  Hun- 
dred and  Thirty-tirst  Street,  west  of  W  hite  Plains  Road,  built  about 
1853,  was  the  refuge  of  the  widow  and  children  of  the  Marquis  de 
Chateauneuf,  formerly  Governor  of  Touraine,  who  fled  from  France 
to  escape  espionage. 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


THE  BRONX 


ROUTE  31. 

SECTION  III— HARLEM  RIVER  TO  HUNT'S  POINT. 

(Figures  refer  to  Plates  XXXV  and  XXXVIII). 

At  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-ninth  Street,  foot  of  the  Third  Avenue 
Elevated  Road,  take  Third  Avenue  trolley,  passing  at 
Third  Avenue  and  One  Hundred  and  Thirty- 
sixth  Street 

46.  The  old  Mott  Mansion,  formerly  the  home  of  the  founders 
of  Mott  Haven.    It  is  now  used  as  two  tenements. 

47.  The  Mott  Memorial  Dutch  Reformed  Church,  at  Third 
Avenue  and  One  Hundred  and  Forty-sixth  Street,  erected  by  Jordan  L. 
^rott  about  1849.*;  (p.  198). 

Go  east  to  St.  Ann's  Avenue  and  south  to 

48.  St.  Ann's  Episcopal  Church,  at  St.  Ann's  Avenue  and  One 
Hundred  and  Fortieth  Street,  contains  a  memorial  window  and 
several  tablets  in  memory  of  the  Morris  family.  The  church  was 
a  gift  from  Gouverneur  Morris.  The  vaults  in  the  grounds  and 
below  the  church  contain  the  remains  of  many  distinguished 
members  of  the  family,  including  Mrs.  Morris,  a  lineal  descend- 
ant of  Pocahontas.  *8  (p.  198). 

Go  south  to  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-third  Street  and  take  Southern 
Boulevard  trolley  east, 

49.  Site  of  Gouverneur  Morris  Mansion  (line  of  One  Hundred  and  Thirtieth 
Street  and  Cypress  Avenue),  lately  destroyed,  the  home  of  the  Morris  family 
of  Morrisania,  where  Lafayette  and  other  notable  persons  were  entertained. 
It  was  filled  with  relics,  including  Morris'  wooden  leg.  Gouverneur  Morris, 
the  statesman,  soldier  and  diplomat,  owned  1920  acres  of  Bronx  real  estate. 
Indian  pits  have  been  discovered  under  the  lawn  north  of  the  house.  Close 
by  is  the  site  of  the  home  of  Lewis  Morris,  a  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  In- 
dependence. 

Just  west,  near  the  beginning  of  Bronx  Kills,  is 

50.  The  site  of  the  home  of  Jonas  Bronck,  the  first  settler  in  the  Bronx, 
1639  (see  Historical  Sketch).  The  house  had  a  tiled  roof  and  Bronck  *'  used 
real  silver  on  his  table,  had  a  table  cloth  and  napkins,  and  possessed  as  many 
as  six  linen  shirts."  At  this  house,  which  was  like  a  miniature  fort,  the 
treaty  was  signed  by  the  Dutch  with  the  Weckquaeskeek  sachems,  Ranaqua  * 
and  Tackamuck,  1642. 

In  the  Morris  High  School,  at  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-sixth 
Street  and  Boston  Avenue,  are  two  mural  paintings  by  Edward 
Willard  (presented  by  the  Municipal  Art  Society  in  1907)  rep- 
resenting (i)  the  making  of  the  Treaty  of  Peace  between  the 
Dutch  and  Indians  in  1642  at  the  house  of  Jonas  Bronck  and  (2) 
Gouverneur  Morris  before  the  Convention  framing  the  National 
Constitution. 

^95  . 


Route  31 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Hunt's 


Passing  Port  Morris,  the  car  goes  near  Leggett  Avenue,  formerly  Leggett's 
Lane,  along  which  the  British  marched,  passing  a  deep  cave  near  the  Long- 
wood  Club  House  where  the  Americans  had,  while  in  flight,  hidden  the  bodies 
of  some  of  their  companions.  On  the  right  is  the  site  of  the  Whitlock  or 
Casanova  Mansion  (1859),  in  its  day  one  of  the  most  magnificent  houses  in 
America.  The  door  knobs  were  of  solid  gold  and  the  house  had  secret  rooms 
and  underground  passages.  Just  beyond,  the  Boulevard  crosses  Lafayette 
Lane.  Under  the  trees  to  the  right  was  an  old  structure  called  the  *'  Kissing 
Bridge. 

Leave  the  car  at  Hunt's  Point  Avenue  and  take  Hunt's  Point  Avenue 
trolley   (or  take  Hujit's  Point  car  from  near  Intervale  Avenue 
Station  of  the  Subn'ay),  passing  on  the  right 

51.  The  site  of  the  Locusts,  of  Revolutionary  days,  the  home  of  the  tutor 
of  the  Faile  family,  who  formerly  taught  in  the  family  of  Sir  Walter  Scott. 
Beyond  is 

52.  The  site  of  Woodside,  built  in  1832,  the  residence  of  the  late  E.  G. 
Faile   (now  occupied  by  the  American  Bank  Note  Co.) 

Beyond  is  the  east  end  of  Lafayette  Avenue,  formerly  the  narrow  Lafayette 
Lane.  In  1824  the  French  general  traveled  from  Boston  to  New  York  via 
Fox  Corners,  presumably  to  stay  at  one  of  the  Leggett  houses  on  Hunt's  Point. 
George  Fox  was  one  of  the  marshals  of  a  delegation  of  New  York  citizens  to 
meet  and  escort  him.  The  lane  was  thus  named  in  his  honor.  Lafayette  is 
said  to^  have  "  paused  in  silent  meditation  at  the  grave  of  Joseph  Rodman 
Drake.'*     On  the  south  side  of  Lafayette  Avenue  stands 

53.  The  Corpus  Christi  Monastery.  Adjoining  is  the  extensive 
55.  Sevilla  Home  for  Children.    Across  Hunt's  Point  Avenue  is 

54.  Sunnyside,  one  of  the  finest  residences  in  the  Bronx,  the 
former  home  of  Peter  Hoe.  Note  the  view  of  Manhattan,  show- 
ing St.  Patrick's  Cathedral,  the  Cathedral  of  St.  John  the  Divine, 
St.  Luke^s  Hospital,  Columbia  Library  and  Grant's  Tomb.  A 
short  distance  below  Cherry  Lane  branches  off,  leading  to  the 
Leggett  Dock  near  the  foundations  of  an  old  Leggett  house. 
Further  along,  nearer  the  Sound,  is  the  site  of  Blythe,  formerly 
the  residence  of  Francis  J.  Baretto,  after  whom  Baretto's  Point 
was  named.  It  was  of  Revolutionary  date  and  when  its  inside 
shutters  were  closed,  it  was  a  miniature  fortress. 


Down  in  the  field  to  the  right  are  the  sites  of  the  Jessup  and  Richardson 
Houses,  near  the  ancient  spring.  In  1660,  Governor  Nicolls  granted  1,000  acres 
in  this  region  to  Edward  Jessup  and  John  Richardson,  who  had  bought  it 
from  the  Indians.  Among  their  descendants  were  the  Hunts,  after  whom  the 
point  is  named,  and  they  were  related  to  the  early  Leggetts. 

In  the  field  opposite,  on  the  long  slope  below  the  Dickey  Mansion,  see  the  site 
of  the 

Leggett   huryir.7-ground,   whence   ten   bodies   of  early  settlers  were  removed, 
one  being  that  of  Mayor  Leggett  of  Westchester. 
On  the  left,  beyond  the  curve  in  the  road,  is  the 

56.  Joseph  Rodman  Drake  Park,  containing  the  grave  of  Joseph 
Rodman  Drake,  author  of  "  The  Culprit  Fay,"  "  Bronx "  and 
"Ode  to  the  American  Flag."  The  stone  is  "a  modest  shaft, 
half  hidden  by  the  tangle  of  bushes  and  wild  flowers  that  border  the 
road,  marking  the  grave  of  a  poet  who  knew  and  loved  our  own 

196 


Point 


THE  BRONX 


31  Route 


neighborhood  in  the  early  days  when  all  was  country-like  and 
the  city  far  away."    The  inscription  reads : 

Sacred  to  the  Memory  of 
Joseph  Rodman  Drake,  M.  D., 
who  died  Sept.  21st,  1820. 
"None  knew  him  but  to  love  him; 
None  named  him  but  to  praise." 

The  burying-ground  has  been  included  in  the  new  Joseph  Rod- 
man Drake  Park.  See  the  ancient  gravestones  of  the  earliest 
members  of  the  Hunt  family.  Among  the  relics  of  the  old  Hunt 
Inn  is  a  pane  of  glass  from  one  of  the  windows  on  which  is 
written  with  a  diamond  the  names  of  Drake  and  Nancy  Leggett, 
joined  at  the  end  with  a  bracket  and  the  single  word  "  Love." 
The  poet  was  a  lineal  descendant  of  the  colonial  Drakes,  settlers 
of  Eastchester. 

Across  the  road  is  the  * 

Graveyard  of  the  slaves  of  early  residents,  among  them  being 
"Bill,"  the  colored  pilot  of  the  Hussar  (see  83).  Further  down  on 
the  left  across  the  bridge  are 

57.  Lord  Howe's  Intrenchments  among  a  group  of  trees.  In 
the  gravel  pit  on  the  east  side  have  been  found  prehistoric  stone  im- 
plements. Close  by  is  an  old  cave,  declared  to  have  been  a  Revolu- 
tionary powder  house.    At  the  extreme  end  of  the  Point  is  the 

58.  Hunt  Mansion,  dating  back  to  1688,  and  built  in  four  sec- 
tions as  the  residents  gradually  added  to  their  wealth,  the  most 
ancient  house  on  the  estate  which  for  two  centuries  has  been 
known  as  Hunt's  Point.  Among  the  welcome  guests  here  were 
Drake  and  Halleck. 

Return  by  new  Hunt's  Point  Avenue  to  Southern  Boulevard,  along 
which,  near  Fox  Square,  see 

59.  Foxhurst  Mansion,  Westchester  Ave.  and  167th  St.,  built  in  1848 
by  the  late  W.  W.  Fox,  one  of  original  Croton  Aqueduct  Com-  ' 
missioners.    Back  of  this  stood  the  old  Hunt  Inn,  erected  in  1660,  a 
noted  tavern,  the  starting  place  of  countless  fox  hunts  and  the  ren- 
dezvous of  the  Red  Coat  officers. 

When  burned  in  1892,  many  interesting  relics  were  found  in 
its  walls. 


197 


Route  31 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Ambleside 


60.  Ambleside,  opposite  59,  formerly  the  residence  of  the  Simpson 
family,  and  the  site  of  Brightside,  the  country  seat  of  the  late  Colonel 
R.  M.  Hoe,  inventor  of  the  rotary  printing  press.  Ambleside  is  on 
Simpson  Street,  below  Westchester  Avenue ;  Brightside  was  on  the 
Southern  Boulevard  east  of  Westchester  Avenue. 

Return  by  Subway  from  Simpson  Street  Station. 


ADDENDA,  1912 
ROUTE  31 

*7  (P-  195)-  See  within  tablet  to  Jordan  L.  Mott,  ''Founder  of  the 
village  of  Mott  Haven;  born  at  Hempstead,  L.  I.,  A.D.  1798;  died  in 
New  York  City,  A.D.  1868,"  etc.,  erected  by  the  congregation. 

*8  (p.  195).  St.  Ann's  was  erected  in  1840  by  Gouverneur  Morris 
in  memory  of  his  mother,  Ann  Carey  Randolph  of  Roanoke,  Va. 
Gouverneur  Morris  lies  buried  here  in  one  of  the  family  vaults. 

*9  (p.  197).  The  stone  portion  bears  marks  of  the  shells  of  Lord 
Howe's  fleet. 


198 


THE  BRONX 


ROUTE  32. 

SECTION    IV— WESTERN   MORRISANIA,   FORDHAM  AND 

BROlSfX  PARK. 
(Figures  refer  to  Plates  XXXV,  XXXVI  and  XXXIX). 
Take  Third  Avenue  Elevated  Road  to  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-sixth 
Street,  or  Subivay  to  One  Hundred  and  Forty-ninth  Street 
and  Third  Avenue  Elevated  Road  to  One  Hundred 
Sixty-sixth  Street.     Go  west  on  One  Hundred 
and  Sixty-seventh  Street. 

61.  Old  Stone  Gate  House,  below  One  Hundred  and  Sixty- 
seventh  Street,  west  of  Third  Avenue.  This  is  the  oldest  build- 
ing in  Morrisania  and  the  only  one  standing  that  was  there  be- 
fore the  village  was  formed  in  1848. '^lo  (p.  202). 

62.  Wm.  H.  Morris  Mansion,  near  Findlay  Avenue,  built  in 
1816,  near  the  site  of  an  older  house  erected  in  1795  by  James 
Morris. 

It  is  said  that  Frances  Hodgson  Burnett  was  married  here.  Jefferson 
Davis  was  a  visitor  and  used  to  wander  in  the  woods  nearby.  Just 
west  is  the  site  of  the  Morris  I'urnihoiisc,  dating  from  1792,  a  quaint 
stone  structure."^!  I   (i).  202). 

64.  The  Zborowski  Mansion,  the  present  headquarters  of  the 
Bronx  Park  Department,  a  solid  stone  building  in  Claremont 
Park.  It  was  built  in  1859,  and  is  evidently  on  the  site  of  an 
older  building  dating  about  1676. 

Beyond  is  the  famous  Black  Swamp,  where  cattle  have  been  lost  since  the 
time  of  the  Indians,  and  which  for  years  defied  the  efforts  of  all  contractors 
to  fill  up.    (63,  Plate  XXXVI.) 

Continue  north  on  Webster  Avenue,  transfer  east  on  Tremont  Av- 
enue, passing  near  the  site  of  the  Bathgate  Homestead, 
and  north  on  TJiird  Avenue  Trolley. 

At  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-sixth  street  is  the  site  of  the  Bathgate  Avenue 
House,  a  very  old  structure,   recently  destroyed. 

65.  The  Jacob  Lorillard  House,  in  the  grounds  of  the  Home 
for  Incurables  at  One  Hundred  and  Eighty-second  Street,  now 
the  home  of  the  Medical  Superintendent.  Here  Poe  once  re- 
cited "  The  Raven."  Just  below,  at  Oak  Tree  Place,  was  the 
celebrated  oak  tree  where  met  the  boundaries  of  the  ancient 
manors  of  Morrisania,  Fordham  and  the  Jessup-Richardson  Patent. 
Leave  trolley  at  Fordham  Road  and  walk  east  to  Washington  Avenue. 

66.  Powell  Farm  House,  Fordham's  oldest  house,  sjiid  to  be 
haunted. 


199  ^ 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Plate  XXXIX.    Routes  32,  34a 


200 


Fordham 


THE  BRONX 


32  Route 


67.  Stenton  Residence,  scene  of  the  recent  murder  (1006). 
having  secret  rooms.  In  the  rear  stood  an  old  barn,  recently 
burned,  said  to  have  sheltered  Washington's  horses  during  the 
Revolution. 

66  is  above,  67  below  189th  St.,  east  side  of  Washington  Ave. 
Walk  west  to  Fordham  Square. 

68.  Nolan's  Hotel,  where  Washington  is  said  to  have  stopped 
when  he  stabled  his  horses  in  the  Stenton  barn. 

Walk  west  up  the  hill  along  the  Kingshridge  Road  to  the 

69.  Poe  Cottage,  where  Edgar  Allan  Poe  lived  (1846-49)  and 
wrote  many  of  his  poems,  including  "Annabel  Lee,"  "  Ulalume  " 
and  "  Eureka.''  Here  Virginia,  his  invalid  wife,  died  and  was 
buried  from  the  Fordham  Manor  Dutch  Reformed  Church  (32). 
In  Poe  Park,  directly  opposite  the  cottage,  is  a  bust  of  Poe 
with  an  inscription,  erected  by  the  Bronx  Society  of  Arts  and 
Sciences  on  the  centenary  of  his  birth,  January  19,  1909. 

In  the  Briggs  House  (near  69),  lived  an  old  lady  who  sup- 
plied Poe  with  the  necessities  of  life  during  his  deepest  poverty. 

70.  Valentine  Farmhouse,  further  west  on  Fordham  road,  near 
Concourse,  remodeled  into  a  modern  residence. 

Take  trolley  to  Fordham  Square,  then  northbound  car,  passing  on  the. 

right 

71.  The  grounds  of  Fordham  University,  or  St.  John's  College 

(founded  1841),  where  was  once  Rose  Hill  Manor  on  which 
stands  the  Rose  Hill  Manor  House;  formerly  here  stood  the  Rose 
Hill  Manor  Farmhouse,  i<^(X3-  Here  was  born  Andrew  Corsa.  the 
last  of  the  famous  Westchester  guides  to  Washington  and  Rocham- 
beau. 

Leave  the  trolley  at  Bronx  Park  Station,  One  Hundred  and  Ninety- 
eighth  Street,  and  visit  the 

72.  Botanical  Museum;  open  9-5,  see  Appendix  D. 

73.  Horticultural  Hall. 

74.  Hemlock  Grove  (Forest  Congress). 

75.  The  Indian  Well  (Bath  or  Basin). 

76.  Lorillard  Fall. 

77.  Lorillard  Mansion  Museum;  open  11  a.m. -.3  p.m.  (free),  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Bronx  Society  of  Arts  and  Sciences;  histori- 
cal relics,  photographs  and  objects  of  natural  History,  see  Appen- 
dix D. 


201 


Route  32 


HISTORICAL    GUIDE  Bronx  Park 


78.  Old  Fashioned  Flower  Garden  (Pierre  Lorillard's  famous 
Acre  of  Roses,"  used  to  impart  aroma  to  his  snuff). 

79.  The  Lorillard  Snuff  Mill. 

80.  Zoological  Gardens;  open  9-5,  see  Appendix  D. 

81.  The  Rocking  Stone,  near  the  restaurant. 

Return  via  Subway  from  One  Hundred  and  Eightieth  Street  Station. 

Bronx  Park  may  be  reached  direct  as  follows :  The  Botanical  Garden 
and  Lorillard  Mansion  Museum  via  Third  Avenue  Elevated  to  198th 
Street;  Zoological  Park  via  West  Farms  (Lenox  Avenue)  Subway 
Express  to  terminal ;  or  by  Third  Ave.  Elevated  or  trolley  to  Fordham 
Road;  thence  by  Bronx  Park  trolley. 

From  upper  Manhattan  take  trolley  from  207th  Street  (Broadway) 
Subway  Station. 


ADDENDA,  1912 
ROUTE  32 

*io  (p.  199).  From  here  walk  west  through  167th  Street  to  Webster 
Avenue ;  on  the  hill  to  the  west  is  Wm.  H.  Morris  Mansion. 

*ii  (p.  199).  The  marble  Heinrich  Heine  Lorelei  Monument  and 
Fountain  stands  six  blocks  south,  at  161  st  Street  and  Mott  Avenue 
(entrance  to  the  Grand  Boulevard  and  Concourse).  It  was  presented 
by  the  German-American  Societies  of  New  York  in  1900  (62a  on 
Plate  XXXV). 


LORILLARD  MANSION  MUSEUM 
(See  also  p.  400) 

Among  the  historic  relics  are  the  following:  hand-made  laths 
shingles,  nails  and  odd-shaped  bricks  from  old  Bronx  dwellings;  oh 
maps  and  rare  prints;  an  army  saddle,  swords  and  Confederate  money 
of  Civil  War  dAys  ;  a  piano  in  six  stages  of  evolution  ;  tiles,  mosaics, 
plates,  bas-reliefs,  busts  and  sculptures;  and  a  Chinese  puzzle  of  carved 
ivory  presented  to  Foe  while  in  his  Fordham  cottage. 


202 


THE  BRONX 


ROUTE  33- 

SECTION  V— THROGG'S  NECK. 
(Figures  refer  to  Plates  XXXVIIl  and  XL). 

Party  of  15  adults  may  secure  pass  in  advance  from  Commandant, 
Ft.  Schuyler,  to  go  on  Government  boat  Tuesdays,  Thursdays  or 
Saturdays. 

Take  Government  boat  for  Fort  Schuyler,  passing  en  route 

82.  Port  Morris,  where  the  Great  Eastern  anchored  after  her 
first  trip  to  New  York.    Close  by  the 

83.  British  Fripate-of-war  Hussar  sank  (Nov.  23,  1780),  reported  laden 
with  a  mass  of  British  gold  and  American  prisoners.  Numerous  attempts 
have  been  made  to  recover  the  treasure,  but  in  vain. 

Copper  rivets  of  the  American  prisoners'  manacles,  projectiles  and  parts  of 
the  ship's  woodwork  have  been  found  (56). 

84.  North  and  South  Brothers  Islands,  the  former  containing 
the  City  Isolation  Hospital.  A  few  feet  ofif  this  shore,  on  June  15, 
1904,  sank  the  ill-fated  General  Slocum. 

58.  Hunt's  Point,  where  can  be  seen  the  old  Hunt  Mansion 
(1688).    On  this  neck  lies  buried  Joseph  Rodman  Drake  (56). 

85.  Bronx  River.  During  the  Revolution  the  British  fleet  re- 
ceived orders  "  to  proceed  up  the  Bronx  and  attack  the  Yankees 
in  hiding  above-^ "  An  English  officer  reported^  "We  have 
crossed  the  Bronx  without  the  loss  of  a  single  man!" 

86.  Clason's  Point,  where  Thos.  Cornell  settled  in  1643. 

An  ancient  stone  farmhouse,  formerly  standing  close  to  the  shore  was  shelled 
by  Lord  Howe's  fleet  as  the  ships  passed  enroute  to  Throgg's  Neck,  October, 
1776. 

Some  of  the  stones  have  found  their  w^ay  into  the  structure 
of  the  Clason's  Point  Inn,  part  of  which  is  the  house  con- 
structed by  Cornell  in  1643  and  burned  by  the  Indians  the  same 
year. 

87.  Screven's  Point  (mouth  of  Westchester  Creek),  where^ 
may  be  seen  the  Wilkins  Farmhouse.  Here  the  Sewanoe  Indians  had 
a  fortified  castle,  whence  the  name  "Castle  Hill."  At  this  point  Adrian 
Block  saw  Indians  and  their  wigwams  on  his  voyage  of  discovery 
(1614).  Within  the  Wilkins  Farmhouse  several  Loyalist  clergymen, 
including  Rev.  Isaac  Wilkins,  rector  of  St.  Peter's,  and  Right  Rev. 
Samuel  Scabury,  the  Bishop,  were  hidden  in  a  secret  chamber,  their 
food  being  lowered  to  them  through  a  trap  door. 


203 


Route  33 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE  Ft.  Schuyler 


88.  Zerega's  or  Ferris  Point,  called  ''Grove  Siah's "  by  its 
colonial  owner,  Josiah  Hunt,  whose  father,  Thomas  Hunt, 
received  a  patent  for  it  from  Governor  Nicolls.  On  this  point 
stands  the  Ferris  Mansion  built  1687,  said  to  be  the  oldest  house 
in  the  Bronx. 

89.  Throgg's  Point,  styled  in  old  records  "  Frog's  Point,"  at 
the  extremity  of  which  stands  Fort  Schuyler,  where  the  boat 
lands.  The  fort  was  established  in  1833.  Throgg  is  an  abbrevia- 
tion of  Throckmorton,  the  name  of  a  colonist  w^ho  settled  here 
in  1642,  obtaining  his  land  brief"  from  the  Dutch.  One  of  his 
companions  was  Roger  Williams. 

ADDENDA,  1912 

ROUTE  33 

By  Trolley 

Take  Westchester  Avenue  and  Clasons  Point  trolleys,  passing  en  route 
on  the  right  the  colonial  Ludlow  Mansion  on  the  "Black  Rock" 
estate  (so  designated  in  the  Patent  of  1667  and  still  so  called).  On 
the  right,  nearer  the  Point,  is  the  Clason's  Point  Military  Academy; 
the  square  stone  chateau  was  erected  by  Dominick  Lynch  in  the  early 
part  of  the  nineteenth  century ;  here  was  celebrated  the  first  Mass  in 
Westchester  County.  On  the  right,  at  the  end  of  the  Pomt,  is  the  old 
Monnot  Mansion.  Nearer  the  trolley  is  86,  Clason's  Point  Inn,  with 
the  inscription,  'Tn  the  year  1643  Thomas  Cornell  bought  this  point 
from  the  Indians.  Part  of  this  building  is  the  original  house  con- 
structed by  him." 

87.  Screven's  Point  may  be  reached  direct  by  walking  down  Castle 
Hill  Avenue  from  Westchester  Avenue 

88.  At  the  end  of  Zerega's  Point  stands  Island  Hall,  built  1823, 
the  home  of  the  Zerega  family  for  five  generations.  Remains  of  the 
old  ferry  to  Whitestone,  L.  I.,  are  visible  at  the  tip  of  the  Point. 

6- 


204 


THE  BRONX 


ROUTE  33a. 

SIDE  TRIP  TO  WESTCHESTER  VILLAGE. 
(Figures  refer  to  Plate  XL). 
This  involves  a  walk  or  drive  of  five  miles  unless  points  92-95  arc 
omitted,   in   which   case   two  miles   may  be   saved   by   taking  the 
trolley  from  the  junction  of  Fort  Schuyler  Road  and  Eastern  Boule- 
vard direct  to  96. 

Follow  the  Throgg's  Neck  or  Fort  Schuyler  Road  to  the  Eastern 
Boulevard,  passing 
On  the  left  the  extensive  Havemeyer  estate,  where  the  British,  un- 
der Howe,  landed  for  their  attack  on  Westchester,  October  12,  1776. 

90.  "Hammond  Castle,"  under  the  great  trees  near  Pennyfield 
Road,  erected  in  1800  by  Abijah  Hammond  and  recently  re- 
modeled.   Beyond  the  fence  is 

91.  The  Robert  Homestead,  former  home  of  the  founder 
of  Robert  College,  Constantinople.  Across  the  lane  is  the  Van 
Schaick  Mansion,  in  the  grounds  of  which  is  a  cedar  of  Le- 
banon, declared  to  be  the  finest  specimen  of  its  kind  in  the  United 
States.    It  was  brought  to  America  by  Philip  Livingston. 

To  the  west  is  the  country  home  of  the  late  Collis  P.  Huntington. 
Take  trolley  to  Westchester  (omitting  g2-gs)  or  follozv  the  Eastern 
Boulcvo'-d  to  the  Middletown  Road,  passing 

92.  Ferris  Mansion,  in  the  Westchester  Country  Club  grounds, 
used  as  Lord  Howe's  headquarters  after  the  landing  at  Throgg's 
Neck,  October,  1776.  Marks  on  the  staircase  are  said  to  have  been 
made  by  the  hoof  of  one  of  the  officer's  horses.  The  house  was  saved 
from  destruction  by  the  British  fleet  through  the  heroism  of  the  mis- 
tress who  calmly  walked  up  and  down  the  veranda. 

To  the  west  is  the  original 

93.  Ferris  House,  owned  for  a  time  by  the  early  settlers  of 
that  name. 

Go  west  to  Westchester  Avenue,  turn  north  a  short  distance  and  see 

94.  The  Spy  Oak,  said  to  be  the  largest  of  its  kind  east  of  the 
Rockies.  A  British  spy  is  supposed  to  have  been  hanged  from  it 
during  the  Revolution  and  there  is  much  legendary  lore  connected 
with  the  old  forest  monarch. 

95.  The  Paul  House,  just  north,  is  one  of  the  oldest  land- 
marks of  the  region.. 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Westchester 


THE  BRONX 


33a  Route 


Return  to  Pclham  Road  and  cross  the 

96.  Westchester  Creek  Causeway,  where,  on  October  12th, 
1776,  was  fought  an  important  battle  between  the  Americans  under 
Heath  and  the  British  under  Howe.  The  patriots  ripped  up  the  plank- 
ing of  the.  old  causeway  just  before  the  enemy  reached  the  spot,  and 
greeted  their  approach  with  a  volley,  repulsing  them.  Two  days  later 
the  English  brought  up  their  cannon  and  began  a  fortification  where 
the  Westchester  Presbyterian  Church  now  stands,  but  withdrew  their 
troops  and  guns  a  few  days  later.  Howe  then  sought  to  join  with 
the  Hessians  near  New  Rochelle,  a  feat  accomplished  only  after  a 
desperate  struggle  with  Glover  at  Pelham's  Neck.  (See  Section  VI 
and  ''The  Battle  of  Pelham  Neck:"  Abbott.) 

Westchester  Village  was  called  by  the  Dutch  Oost-Dorp  and 
the  whole  region  was  known  as  Vredeland ,  or  Land  of  Peace.  The 
village  is  the  oldest  in  the  county,  having  been  first  settled  by  the 
Puritans  in  1650.  The  site  was  purchased  from  the  Indians  in  1654 
by  Thomas  Pell,  and  was  described  as  "  all  that  tract  of  land  called 
Westchester." 

97.  Bowne  Store,  west  of  the  causeway — the  old  village  store. 

98.  St.  Peter's  Church,  on  Westchester  Avenue,  fourth  build- 
ing on  this  site,  the  first  having  been  erected  in  1700.  The  chime 
of  bells  is  said  to  have  been  presented  to  the  church  in  the  time 
of  Queen  Anne.  The  churchyard  contains  stones  dating  back  to 
1713.  Beyond  the  Sunday  School  building  is  the  site  of  a  Quaker 
Meeting  House,  while  another  stood  just  west.  Both  were 
destroyed  by  fire,  it  is  said,  on  the  same  night.  Near  by  flows 
the  Indian  Brook,  on  the  banks  of  which  the  celebrated  George 
Fox  is  said  to  have  addressed  the  first  Quaker  meeting  held  in 
America  (1672).    To  the  west  is 

99.  St.  Peter's  Rectory  (opposite  Glebe  Avenue)  standing  on 
land  forming  part  of  the  ''Ancient  Glebe,"  given  by  the  town  in 
1703.  ' 

Return  by  trolley  to  the  Third  Avenue  Elevated  or  Subway. 
N.  B.  If  the  water  trip  to  Fort  Schuyler  is  omitted,  take  West- 
chester Avenue  trolley  from  One  Hundred  and  Forty-ninth  Street  Sta- 
tion of  the  Third  Avenue  Elevated  Railroad,  or  the  Subway 
Station  at  One  Hundred  and  Forty-ninth  Street  and  Third  Avenue, 
and  reverse  the  order  of  points. 

The  new  Throgg's  Neck  trolley  from  J  West  Farms  zi'ill  make  it  possible 
to  cover  this  route  comfortably. 
.% 
207 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Plate  XLT.    Route  34. 
208 


THE  BRONX 


ROUTE  34. 

SECTION  VI— CITY  ISLAND  AND  PELHAM  BAY  PARK. 
(Figures  refer  to  Plate  XLI). 

(Latter  part  of  trip  recommended  as  a  carriage  or  bicycle  trip,  as  it 
involves  between  4  and  5  miles  walking.  Pelham  Bay  Park  may  be 
reached  by  new  extension  of  Westchester  Ave.  trolley. 

At  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-ninth  Street  station  of  the  Third  Av- 
enue Elevated  take  Harlem  River  Branch  of  the  New  Haven 
R.  R.  to  Bartow  {trains  leave  15  minutes  before  every  hour). 
At  Bartozu  take  horse  car  for  City  Island,  passing 

100.  Glover's  Rock.  Read  the  tablet — (erected  by  the  Mt.  Ver- 
non Chapter  of  the  D.  A.  R.  in  1901),  describing  the  Battle  of  Pell's 
Point  (Oct.  18,  1776),  which  began  near  this  rock,  when  550  men 
under  Colonel  Glover  detained  Howe  long  enough  for  Washington 
to  reach  White  Plains  in  safety.  Cannon-balls  were  found  here  when 
the  railroad  track  w^as  being  constructed,  and  a  distinctly  marked 
Indian  pot-hole  was  discovered  near  Bartow  Station. 

101.  Site  of  Indian  burying-ground,  where  Indian  remains  have 
been  found.    There  were  two  Indian  villages  on  jthis  neck,  one  near 
the  Eastern  Boulevard  and  one  on  the  very  extremity  of  Pelham  * 
(Rodman's)  Neck.    Before  crossing  the  bridge  see  the 

102.  Marshall  Mansion,  or  Colonial  Inn.  While  crossing  the 
new  bridge,  see  just  north  of  the  present  structure  the  approaches 
of  the*i2  (p.  215). 

103.  Old  City  Island  Bridge,  originally  spanning  the  Harlem 
at  Harlem  Village,  some  of  the  timbers  having  been  taken  from  the 
old  frigate  man-of-war  North  Carolina."  Previous  to  its  erection 
here,  City  Island  was  reached  by  ferry. 

City  Island,  "  the  Pearl  of  the  Sound,"  or  "  Gem  of  the  Ocean," 
received  its  present  name  because  a  city  was  planned  here  to  outstrip 
New  York.  It  is  said  that  the  oyster  culture  started  here.  Note  the 
rural  appearance  of  streets  and  houses. 

From  the  end  of  the  car  line,  walk  on  to  the  end  of  the  island,  pass- 
ing on  the  left  the 

104.  Horton  Homestead,  the  oldest  house  on  the  island.  Most 
of  City  Island  was  once  comprised  in  the  Horton  Farm.  Close 
by  is  the  Belden  Mansion,  with  extensive  grounds,  at  Belden's 
Point.  To  the  shipyard  here  some  of  America's  Cup  Defenders 
are  sent  to  be  broken  up  into  scrap-iron. 

209 


Route  34 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


City  Island 


From  the  dock  see  about  one  mile  south 

105.  Stepping  Stones  Light,  so  called  from  its  location  on  one 
of  the  Devil's  Stepping  Stones,"  an  irregular  line  of  rocks  jutting 
out  into  the  Sound.  According  to  an^old  legend  the  Evil  One  made 
his  retreat  over  these  stones  from  Westchester  County  to  Long  Island 
to  escape  the  vengeance  of  his  Indian  foes.  Heaping  up  all  the  stones 
he  could  find  in  Long  Island  at  Cold  Spring,  he  hurled  them  at  his 
enemies  in  Westchester,  thus  accounting  for  the  number  of  boulders 
in  Westchester  and  the  freedom  from  them  in  Long  Island.  In  a 
boulder  southeast  of  Eastchester  may  be  seen  the  likeness  of  a  foot 
said  to  be  the  Devil's  imprint. 

Returning  go  to  the  right  at  Dituiars  Street  to  see  the 

106.  Macedonia  Hotel,  on  the  eastern  shore.  Read  the  in- 
scription which  states  that  the  wing  is  part  of  an  English  frigate 
^'Macedonia "  captured  by  Decatur  during  the  War  of  1812.  Visit 
the  old  cabin  and  see  the  mast-hole,  hammock-hooks  and  iron 
ring  to  fasten  th<?  guns,  also  the  officers'  staterooms. 

See  from  here  Hart's  Island,  the  "  Potter's  Field  "  of  New  York 
City.  *I3  (p.  215). 

Take  the  car  hack  to  Bartow,  and  follow  the  Eastern  Boulevard  about 
half  a  mile  north  to  the 

107.  Bartow  Mansion,  the  summer  home  of  the  Crippled  Chil- 
dren's Association. 

Not  far  away  is  tlie  site  of  the  original  Pell  Manor  House,  though  some 
sav  that  it  was  on  the  extreme  end  of  Pelham  Neck.  Many  tales  are  told  of 
this  house,  under  the  title  of  "  Mysteries  of  a  Pclhani  h^arm  House." 

In  the  center  of  a  large  field  in  front  arc  the  traditional  remains  of  the 

108.  Pell  TreEty  Oak,  the  famous  tree  wlicrc  Thomas  Pell  in  1654 
signed  the  treaty  with  the  Scwrmoe  Indians,  purchasing  about  10,000 
acres  from  them.   (But  sec  1912  Report,  Am.  Seen,  and  His.  Pres.  Soc.) 

Between  the  Bartow  Mansion  and  the  Sound  is  the 

109.  Pell  Family  Burial-ground.  Note  the  four  (modern) 
stone  corner-posts,  with  the  emblem  of  the  Pell  family,  A  Pelican 
Gorged,  and  each  bearing  a  different  inscription.  Read  the  inscrip- 
tion on  the  large  centre-stone. 

Return  to  the  Boulevard  and  continue  to  the  white  stone  gate-posts 

leading  to 

I  TO.  Hunter's  Island,  where  see  the  TTunter-Tselin  Mansion, 
summer  home  of  The  Little  Mothers."  On  the  southeast  side  of 
the  island  are  said  to  be  the  great  Indian  rock  Mishow  and  the  graves 

210 


Split  Rock 


THE  BRONX 


34  Route 


of   two   Indian   sachems.     The   Indian   name   for   this   region  was 
Laapliazcacliking  (the  place  of  stringing  beads). 

Take  the  right-hand  road  over  to  Hunter's  Island  leading  to  the 

111.  Twin  Island,  on  the  second  of  which  stands  the  Ogden 
Mansion.  From  this  point  a  fine  marine  view  may  be  enjoyed. 
Return  on  the  Boulevard  to  Prospect  Hill  Avenue  (Split  Rock  Road). 
along  which  Glover's  gallant  men  so  stubbornly  resisted  the  advanc- 
ing British. 

Follow  Split  Rock  Road  to  the 

112.  Collins  House,  or    the    Joshua  Pell  Mansion,  one  of  the 
Pell  homes. 

113.  Split  Rock  is  a  gigantic  boulder,  cleft  squarely  in  twain, 
a  good  sized  tree  growing  in  the  crevice.  Tradition  states  that  the 
early  home  of  Ann  Hutchinson  (for  whom  the  Hutchinson  River  is 
named)  was  near  this  spot.  She  came  here  in  1642  with  her  younger 
children  and  her  son-in-law,  and  in  the  same  year  her  cabin  was 
burned  by  the  Indians,  and  all  but  one  of  her  family  were  killed,  her 
eight-year-old  daughter  escaping,  only  to  be  captured.  Some  say 
she  perished  on  the  crest  of  Split  Rock.  (Tablet,  1909.) 

Cross  the  City  Line  and  continue  to  Boston  Road;  then  follow  IVolf's 
Lane,  line  of  the  American  retreat. 
At  the  foot  of  the  hill,  on  Wolf's  Lane,  near  Columbus  Avenue,  is 
(also  known  as  the  Rodman  or  Coudert  Mansion) 

115.  The  stately  stone  Pell  Mansion,  perhaps  the  finest  of 
all,  with  its  splendid  columns  and  iron  lattice-work,  and  the  family 
coat  of-arms.    In  the  woods  near  by  is  the 

116.  Lord  Howe  Chestnut,  where  Howe  and  his  generals 
lunched  on  Oct.  18,  1776,  while  resting  during  their  pursuit  of  the 
Americans.  Some  say  that  they  lunched  at  the  Pell  House,  tak- 
ing the  old  lady's  last  turkey. 

117.  Hutchinson   River   Bridge,    where    the    battle    of    Pell's  , 
Point  ended  and  the  day  was  saved  for  Washington.    This  bridge  is 
on  the  line  of  the  original  Boston  Road,  opened  in  1672. 

Return  by  trolley  to  Mt.  rcrnoii,  or  take  the  X.  V.,  ITcstchester  and 

Boston  R.  R. 


211 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


ROUTE  34a. 

SECTION    VII.— EASTERN    MORRISANIA   AND  WEST 
FARMS  TO  EASTCHESTER. 

(Figures  refer  to  Plates  XXXV,  XXXVII,  XXXVIII  and  XXXIX). 

From  West  Farms  to  Eastchester  involves  a  walk  of  about  five  miles. 
Take  Third  Avenue  Elevated  Road  or  Lenox  Avenue  Subway 
Express  to  One  Hundred  and  Forty-ninth  Street  and  Third  Av- 
enue and  change  to  north-hound  West  Farms  trolley,  running 
along  Third  Avenue  (formerly  t|je  old  Post  Road)  and  Boston 
Road  to  West  Farms,  passing  on  the  right  at  One  Hundred  and 
Fifty-sixth  Street  the  site  of  the 

Old  school  house  where  many  of  the  children  of  the  early  residents  received 
their  first  training.  Near  the  Sixty-third  Precinct  Station  the  Avenue  turns 
to  the  right,  crossing  where  once  flowed  old  Mill  Brook,  the  division  line  in 
thousands  of  titles  for  real  estate.  On  its  banks  once  stood  the  old  Morrisania 
mill,  thus  giving  it  the  title  of  Saw  Mill  Brook.  At  One  Hundred  and  Sixty- 
first  Street  is  the  new  Court  House  on  the  site  of  the  old  Hammer  Hotel. 
West  on  Third  Avenue,  near  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-third  Street,  stood  the 
shingled  Georgi  House,  one  of  the  three  buildings  standing  on  Gouverneur  Morris* 
farm  in  1848  when  he  sold  it  to  be  cut  up  into  building  lots  to  form  ^he  village  of 
Morrisania.  Here  the  car  climbs  the  steep  hill  of  Boston  Road.  What  is  now 
Third  Avenue  north  of  this  point  was  once  the  narrow  and  shaded  Fordham 
Lane,  extending  through  the  fields  and  woods  of  the  Morris  farm. 

At  Boston  Road  and  Cauldwell  Avenue,  below  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-sixth 
Street,  was  Pudding  Rock,  a  gigantic  glacial  boulder  where  the  Indians  held 
their  corn  feasts,  and  under  the  cool  shade  of  which  the  tired  Huguenots 
paused  to  rest  on  their  long  Sabbath  journey  from  New  Rochelle  to  New 
York. 

118.  The  Tenth  Milestone,  at  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-eighth 
Street,  marks  the  distance  from  the  English  City  Hall  on  Wall 
Street. 

Opposite  Union  Avenue  is  the  site  of  the  Jennings  Homestead,  known  also 
as  the  Drovers'  Inn  and  the  Old  Stone  Jug,  built  in  the  middle  of  the  18th 
Century. 

119.  At  McKinley  Square,  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-ninth  Street 
and  Boston  Road,  see  the  flag-pole  and  tablets  on  trees  in  mem- 
ory of  Lincoln,  Garfield  and  McKinley;  note  also  Civil  War 
mortar  and  cannon  balls. 

On  the  east  siH^  of  the  junction  with  Minford  Place  is  the  site  of  The  Spy 
House.  In  this  little  building,  it  is  said,  lived  an  American  spy  who  played 
in  the  neighborhood  the  part  of  Cooper's  spy  at  Mamaroneck.  Where  the 
Southern  Boulevard  crosses  may  be  seen  the 

120.  Old  Hunt  House  where  Washington  stayed  over  night 
while  holding  an  important  conference  with  a  spy. 

Leave  the  car  at  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-seventh  Street  and  go 
north  to  One  Hundred  and  Eightieth  Street. 
212 


West  Farms 


THE  BRONX 


34a  Route 


West  Farms  preserves  th«  appearance  of  a  country  village. 

Just  below  rises  the  stone  Crowther  Homestead,  dated  about 

1816,  containing  interesting  carved  white  marble  mantels.  Poe 

was  a  frequent  visitor  here.*i4  (p.  215;  on  map  120a). 

At  the  right  pass  the  site  of  the  DeLancey  Block  House,  a  noted  place  for 
the  Royalists  until  destroyed  in  a  midnight  attack  by  Aaron  Burr  during  the 
winter  of  1779.  It  stood  on  the  land  of  the  Peabody  Home  (One  Hundred  and 
Seventy-ninth  Street),  the  building  preceding  which  was  known  as  the  Uncle 
Daniel  Mapes    Temperance  House. 

Near  One  Hundred  and  Eightieth  Street  stands  the  venerable 

Purdy  Mansion,  dating  from  1820.     Two  blocks  west  on  One  . 

Hundred  and  Eightieth  Street  is  the  old 

121.  West  Farms  Presbyterian  Church,  built  1815,  opposite  the  new 
Beck  Memorial.  Many  veterans  of  the  Civil  War  are  interred  in  the  old 
church  cemetery.  While  excavating  near  by,  the  skeleton  of  a  Revolu- 
tionary officer  was  found,  clad  in  Continental  regimentals.  Church 
burned  1912.    See  Soldiers'  Monument,  erected  1909. 

At  the  lower  end  of  Bronx  Park,  see  ruins  (W.  bank  of  river  opp.  182nd  St.). 

122.  Lydtg's  Mills,  built  in  early  times.  Just  north  stood  the  quaint  John- 
son's Tavern,  an  ancient  inn  where  the  stage-coach  from  Boston  to  New  York 
stopped  to  change  horses. 

Go  nor  til  along  the  ivcst  side  of  the  Bronx  through  the  Park, 
122,.    DeLancey  Pine,  150  feet  high,  in  the  thick  branches  of 
which  the  American  sharpshooters  used  to  hide  while  picking  off 
the  British  in  the  De  Lancey  Block  House  (trunk  E.  bank,  opp.  boat- 
house. 

"  Memorial  of  the  fallen  great, 
The  rich  and  honored  line, 
Stands  high  in  solitary  state 
DeLancey's  ancient  pine." 

124.  Fording  Place  where  all  travelers  had  to  wade  their  steeds 
through  the  river.  Beyond  is  the  old  hamlet  of  Bronxdale,  near 
which  is  ' 

Bear  Szvanip  (so-called  because  long  the  haunt  of  bears),  on  the  site 
of  a  Sewanoe  Indian  village  which  remained  until  1689. 
Cross  the  broad  Pelhain   Parkzi'ay;   continue   north   on   the  Boston, 
Road  through  Spoicer's  Square. 

In  the  woods  to  the  left  on  the  W.  side  of  Boston  Road  is 

125.  Underbill  Burying  Ground,  said  to  have  been  bought  by 
that  family  from  the  Indians.  A  mile  beyond  is  an  old  house  on 
the  height  of  ground  from  which  may  be  obtained  a  fine  view  of 
the  surrounding  country. 

126.  15th  Mile  Stone,  near  Two  Hundred  and  Twenty-second 
Street  (removed  for  safe  keeping  to  Borough  Hall).  Half  a  mile 
further 

213 


Route  34a  HISTORICAL    GUIDE  Eastchester 


Cross  Rattlesnake  Brook  into  Eastchester. 

127.  Rattlesnake  Brook  was  named  from  the  reptiles  which  flourished  here, 
one  six  feet  in  length  being  slain  as  late  as  1775.  Bears,  deer  and  wolves 
abounded  in  Eastchester  and  the  remains  of  a  large  wolf  pit  are  still  visible 
on  the  Purdy  Estate. 

Follow  Eden  Terrace  west  to 

128.  Seton  Falls,  the  great  Seton  Cave,  the  Indian  Hiding  Place 

and  some  Indian  Fortifications,  all  concealed  in  the  dense  woods,  now 
close  to  the  new  line  of  Two  Hundred  and  Thirty-third  Street. 

Village  of  Eastchester,  one  of  the  oldest  in  this  section.  On 
all  sides  arc  evidences  of  Indian  occupation,  quantities  of  arrow 
and  spear  heads  being  found  all  about.  Wigwams  occupied  the 
site  of  the  old  Morgan  Residence,  while  a  fortified  castle  of  the 
Sewanoes  stood  on  the  hill  behind  the  Fowler  Mansion ;  here  the  early- 
settlers  erected  in  1675  a  ''General  Fort."  Washington,  passing  through 
the  section  in  1790,  says  he  found  it  "very  rough  and  immensely  stoney." 
At  Boston  Road  and  Dyre  Avenue  stands  Old  Point  Comfort  Inn, 
pre-Revolutionary,  but  remodeled,  where  Lafayette  was  once  entertained. 
Walk  down  Mill  Lane  to  {2  miles) 

129.  Reid*s  Miller's  House.  On  the  marshes  stood  the  famous 
Reid's  Mill,  a  tide-mill  which  once  ground  grain  for  tb€  farmers 
for  miles  around.    It  was  built  in  1739. 

Return  to  the  Post  Road  and  go  north  on  Provost  Avenue  or  White 

Plains  Road. 

130.  Vincent-Halsey  House,  the  smaller  portion  being  of  Revo- 
lutionary date.  Nearby  was  the  old  Guion  Inn,  a  Revolutionary 
tavern  where  Washington  once  stopped  and  mentioned  in  his  diary 
that  these  roads  were  "  immensely  rough  and  stony." 

131.  Groshon  House,  a  quaint  old  landmark,  the  former  resi- 
dence of  a  Huguenot  family,  "  Gros-Jean." 

132.  St.  Paul's  Church,  built  in  1765,  opposite  the  site  of  the 
first  building  erected  in  1699.  During  the  Revolution  St.  Paul's 
was  used  as  a  British  hospital.  See  the  historical  collection, 
which  includes  an  old  Prayer  Book  and  Bible.  These,  together 
with  the  great  bell,  were  buried  during  the  war  in  the  Vincent- 
Halsey  grounds.  After  the  war,  while  the  old  church  was  used 
as  a  court  of  justice,  Aaron  Burr  pleaded  here  many  causes. 

The  lawn  opposite  St.  Paul's  Church  was  the  colonial  village 
green.  Here  stood  the  first  church  structure,  erected  1699,  and 
lised  as  fuel  by  the  British  while  occupying  the  present,  build- 
ing.    Here   were  also  the  village  stocks,  dating  from   1720.  In 

214 


St.  Paul's  THE   BRONX  34a  Route 

the  locust  trees  which  still  stand  was  fastened  the  iron  staple 
to  which  criminals  were  tied  to  receive  punishment. 

St.  Paul's  Churchyard,  containing  6,000  bodies.  Note  the  quaint 
inscriptions  on  the  tombstones,  the  oldest  being  dated  I704.*i5 

Return  by  trolley  to  Mount  Vernon  and  train  to  Nezv  York;  or  N.  Y  , 
Westchester  and  Boston  R.  R.  at  Dyre  Ave.  and  233d  St. 
N.  B.    Section  VII  could  begin  here,  the  route  being  reversed. 

ADDENDA,  1912 
ROUTES  34,  34a 

*I2  (p.  209).  Near  the  end  of  Pell's  Point  see  the  old  Bowne 
residence,  with  shingled  sides. 

*I3  (p.  210).  Stephen  Jenkins  in  his  "Story  of  the  Bronx,"  pp. 
431-432,  states  that  this  Macedonian  is  not  the  British,  but  a  later 
American  warship  used  for  a  time  as  a  practice  ship  at  the  U.  S.  Naval 
Academy.  Walk  one-half  mile  south  from  Bartow  Station  to  see  the 
new  Pelham  Bridge  and  the  Tallapoosa  Club  House,  a  former 
Lorillarcl  mansion. 

*I4  (p.  213).  Across  the  Bronx  may  be  seen  the  old  Wilson  or 
McKesson  homestead. 

*I5  (p.  215).  See  tablet,  erected  191 1,  by  the  Empire  State  Society, 
Sons  of  the  American  Revolution,  giving  an  account  of  the  history  of 
the  original  meeting-house,  the  village  green  and  the  present  structure. 

Two  tombstones  in  St.  Paul's  Churchyard,  erected  by  the  Bronx 
Chapter,  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution,  read  as  follows: 
"Here  lie  interred  the  skeletons  of  American  Revolutionary  soldiers 
found  at  Tuckahoe,  1909.''  "This  marks  the  site  of  the  sand  pit  in 
which  are  buried  those  Hessian  soldiers  who  died  in  the  churcli  when 
used  as  a  hospital,  1776." 

Opposite  St.  Paul's,  across  Columl)us  Avenue  (a  part  of  the  cc^lonial 
Boston  Post  Road,  laid  out  in  1672),  is  the  white  Crawford  Tavern, 
built  before  the  Revolution.  It  was  a  famcnis  rendezvous  for  Englisli 
officers,  and  from  its  old  sign  post  a  British  deserter  was  summarily 
hanged.  Near  by  stood  the  Guion  Tavern,  where  Washington  was 
once  detained  several  days  by  illness.  On  leaving  he  kissed  the  cheek 
of  the  hostess,  which  her  husband  insisted  should  never  be  washed 
again. 

?i5 


NOTES 


21(5 


2l8 


PART  THREE 


BOROUGH    OF  BROOKLYN 
EXCURSIONS  XII  AND  VIIL— ROUTES  35-43- 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Plate  XLII.    Brooklyn  and  Queens.  C.  K, 


220 


EXCURSION  NO.  XII— HISTORIC  BROOKLYN.  PART 
By  George  W.  Nash,  M.  D. 

Copyright,  1909,  by  the  City  History  Qub  of  New  York. 
Revised  1912 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


222 


HISTORIC  BROOKLYN 


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"  History  of  Long  Island,"  by  B.  F.  Thompson,  2  vols.,  1843. 

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"  History  of  Long  Island,"  by  Peter  Ross,  3  vols.  1903. 

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Vol.  II.    "The  Battle  of  Long  Island,"  by  Thomas  W.  Field,  1869. 

Vol.  III.  "The  Campaign  of  1776  Around  New  York  and  Brook- 
lyn," by  Henry  P.  Johnston,  1878. 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


 (  BroKM  Line)''  British  Line  of  ^di^anc^ 


Plate  XLIII.    Battle  of  Long  Island.  C.  K. 

By   permission   from   Stiles'   **  The   County   of   Kings   and   City  of  Brooklyn," 
published  by  W.   W.   Munsell.  (Redrawn). 
Key   to   the  Map 

A.  At   Gowanus,   where   Grant   opened   the   battle   with   the   Americans  under 

B.  Amedcan*  position  under  Sullivan  in  Greenwood  Cemetery,  attacked  by  the 

Ilessians  under  l3eHeister. 

C.  Howe's  position  at  the  rear  of  Sullivan. 

D.  Howard's  Half  Way  House.  „    ,     ^      .  i  •  • 

E.  Howe's  final  position  on  the  American  flank,  Grant  attacking  in  the  tront. 
F*    Fort   Putnam    (now   Fort  (]reenc). 

G.    Brooklyn  Ferry,  line  of  American  retreat. 

224 


BROOKLYN 


HISTORICAL  SKETCH  OF  BROOKLYN 


The  Brooklyn  of  to-day  was  made  up  by  the  consolidation  of  several  small 
towns,  all  of  which  retain  in  some  measure  their  early  characteristics. 

The  earliest  settlements  were  in  what  may  be  called  the  Greater  Brooklyn: 
those  of  Bennett  and  Bentyn  at  Gowanus  in  1636,  and  that  of  Rapelje  at  Wall- 
about  in  1637.  Other  acquisitions  were  made  by  purchase  from  the  Indian-?, 
until  the  Indian  title  to  all  the  west  end  of  Long  Island  was  extinguished.  Even 
in  early  days,  the  population  of  Manhattan  overflowed  its  own  boundaries  and 
some  of  its  inhabitants  sought  the  fertile  plains  of  Long  Island  for  their  farms 
and  homes.  This  necessitated  some  means  of  ready  communication,  and  a  ferry 
was  established  as  early  as  1651;  then,  as  now,  this  ferry  started  from  the  foot 
of  Fulton  Street,  although  the  shore  lines  are  not  the  same  as  they  were  at 

that  time. 

Difficulties  with  the  Indians  on  the  mainland,  brought  about  by  the  bad  ad- 
ministration of  Kieft,  extended  to  Long  Island,  and  the  settlements  were  al- 
most wiped  out  by  Indian  forays.  Other  settlers  came  later,  and  a  village  sprang 
up  along  the  highway  to  Flatbush,  about  a  mile  from  the  ferry.  It  was  thi« 
village  that  was  named  Breuckelen,  for  an  old  town  in  Holland  not  far  from 
Amsterdam;  this  was  in  1643,  when  a  charter  with  associated  privileges  was 
granted.    A  hamlet  grew  up  also  at  the  ferry  and  was  known  as  Ferry  Village. 

Under    the    Dutch    the    settlements    progressed    slowly.      At    the    time  when 
Stuyvesant  succeeded  Kieft,  there  was  "  considerable  discontent  among  his  own 
people;   jealous  neighbors  looked  with   longing  eyes  on  the  thrifty   farms,"  and 
the    Indians,    feeling    keenly    their    past    wrongs,    were    brooding,    plotting  and 
waiting.     Stuyvesant's  rule  was  arbitrary  and  brooked  little  opposition;  still  the 
inhabitants  obtained  some  measure  of  local  self-government  and  the  town  made 
some  advance.     Church  services  were  held  in   1654,   although  the  town  did  not 
have  a  minister  of  its  own  until   1660;   a  market  and  school  were  also  estab- 
lished.    As  elsewhere  in  the  colony,  slavery  existed  in  a  mild  form  until  finally 
!   abolished  in  1825.     The  Indian  outbreak  of   1663,  which  seems  to  have  been  a 
■   general  rising,  brought  from  the   Dutch  farmers  the  statement  that  "  the  town 
j  could  not  afford  a  standing  army  of  8,  10  or  12  men,"  the  number  requested. 
'       The    transition    from.    Dutch    to    English    rule    affected    the    town    very  little, 
i  The  short  period  of  the  Dutch  re-occupation   (1672-3)   was  noted  chiefly  for  the 
I   alacrity   with   which  the   farmers  took  the   oath  of  allegiance   and  little  change 
'  was  experienced  when  tlu-  English  again  came  into  possession.     In  1675  Brooklyn 
had  60  assessed  persons  with  a  valuation  of   5204  pounds  sterling.     In   1679  a 
little  flare-up  of  Dutch  temper  was  shown  when  the  sturdy   inhabitants  vented 
their   feelings  on  the  Kings  Arms  in   the  Court  House.    Fulton   Street,  at  first 
i  merely  a  narrow  lane  leading  from   Ferry  Village  to   Breuckelen,  was  ordered 
regularly  laid  out   (1704)  to  East  Hampton  and  was  to  be  four  rods  wide.  It 
became  part  of  the  first  post  road  through  Long  Island  in  1764  and  in  1867  it 
was  widened. 

In  1784,  at  the  first  town  meeting  after  the  Revolution,  it  was  discovered 
that  all  the  town  records  had  disappeared,  and  it  is  supposed  that  they  were 
removed  to  England  by  members  of  the  Rapelje  family  who  sided  with  the 
British  and  whose  estates  had  been  confiscated. 

1  TJie  Battle  of  Long  Island 

'  The  British,  landing  on  Long  Island  in  August,  1776,  found  that  the  Ameri- 
cans had  covered  three  of  the  four  roads  leading  to  Brooklyn,  where  forti- 
fications had  been  thrown  up  from  Gowanus  to  Fort  Putnam,  now  Fort  Greene. 
The  fourth,  a  roundabout  way  on  the  Jamaica  Road,  had  been  neglected  and  the 
strategic  importance  of  this  pass  was  at  once  recognized  by  the  British.  General 
Howe,  sending  two  detachments  under  Grant  by  the  shore  road  to  Gowanus, 
and  a  column  of  Hessians  under  DeHeister  by  the  middle  pass,  himself  took 
the  Jamaica  Road.  .       ^       ,  ,      *       •  j 

The  battle  began  on  August  27,  when  Grant's  men  met  the  Americans  under 
Stirling,  and  pushed  them  back  toward  the  position  (now  covered  by  Green- 
wood Cemetery)  occupied  by  Sullivan.  In  the  meantime  Howe,  on  reaching 
Howard  Half  Way  House  on  the  Jamaica  Road,  turned  sharply  to  the  west 
and  soon  came  unexpectedly  on  the  rear  of  Sullivan's  men.  The  Hessians, 
who  had  hitherto   remained   inactive,   then  pushed  hard   on   the   front  and  the 

225 


Sketch 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE  of  Brooklyn 


Americans  were  forced  to  retreat,  Sullivan  being  captured.  Immediately  Howe 
sent  forward  troops  against  Stirling,  while  Grant,  made  aware  of  this  move- 
ment, pressed  heavily  against  them,  and  here  again  the  Americans,  caught  in  a 
trap,  were  compelled  to  retreat,  losing  Stirling.  The  day  of  disaster  to  the 
Americans  closed  with  an  exhibition  of  devoted  bravery  on  the  part  of  the  Mary- 
land regiment  who  held  back  the  British  until  their  struggling  companions  could 
reach  safety.  The  British  did  not  push  the  advantage  gained  and  thus  gave 
Washington  opportunity,  under  cover  of  a  fog,  to  transport  all  his  men  safely 
to  New  York. 


The  British  kept  possession  of  Brooklyn  and  occupied  it  until  the  end  of  the 
war.  With  a  number  of  regiments  quartered  here,  the  people  felt  martial  rule 
keenly,  as  the  gay  life  of  .the  soldiers  contrasted  strongly  with  the  condition 
of  the  patriots  and  a  scene  of  waste  and  desolation  was  revealed  after  the 
evacuation.     During  this   period   the   first   Brooklyn   newspaper   was  issued. 

In  spite  of  the  presence  of  the  British  and  of  the  general  apathy  of  the 
people,  there  were  men  patriotic  enough  to  loan  the  government  large  sums  of 
money,  through  the  medium  of  American  prisoners  of  war.  After  the  evacuation 
the  town  slowly  pulled  itself  together;  new  ferries  were  established,  churches 
and  schools  organized,  mills  started,  a  fire  department  introduced  and  a  bridge 
to  New  York  suggested.  At  a  town  meeting  of  the  trustees  held  just  prior  to 
the  act  of  incorporation  in  1816,  it  was  decided  that  the  usual  supper  at  the 
end  of  the  deliberations  should  be  at  individual  expense  and  not  a  public 
charge.  Incorporation  put  a  stimulus  on  the  people  and  the  shiftless  village 
grew  steadily  in  importance  and  character  until  in  1834  a  city  charter  was 
granted.  As  a  city,  Brooklyn  made  a  quiet  and  substantial  growth,  expanding 
slowly  to  meet  nevv  conditions  until  in  1840  it  covered  12  square  miles,  with  a 
population  of  30,000. 

In  1854  Williamsburg  and  Bushwick  were  absorbed  and  in  course  of  time  the 
neighboring  towns  of  Flatbush,  Gravesend,  New  Utrecht,  New  Lots  and  Flat- 
lands  were  annexed,  so  that  at  the  time  of  its  own  incorporation  wifli  New 
York  in  1898,  Brooklyn  had  an  area  of  50,000  acres  and  a  population  of  nearly 
1,000,000. 

In  1909  the  city  had  396  Protestant  and  97  Roman  Catholic  Churches,  besides 
31  synagogues,  thus  entitling  her  to  be  called  the  **  City  of  Churches."  The 
immense  docking  facilities  show  the  energy  of  her  business  men,  while  their 
philanthropic   impulses  may  be   seen   in   many  directions. 

N.  B.  For  detailed  accounts  of  the  former  villages  named  above  see  Sections 
I,  II  and  I II J  and  Excursion  VIII, 


ADDENDA  BY  CHARLES  A.  DTTMAS. 

The  first  authentic  purchases  of  land  on  Long  Island  were  made  June  16,  1636, 
when  the  following  purchases  were  made  from  the  Indians:  (i)  Part  of  Flntbush 
(divided  by  Canarsie  Lane)  by  Jacobus  van  Corlear;  (2)  Flatlands  south  of 
Paerdegat  (excepting  Barren  Island)  by  Andries  Hudde  and  Wolfert  Gcrritscn 
(V'an  Kouwenhovcn) ;  the  plantation  was  called  Achtenveldt,  and  the  town  New 
Amersfoort  in  honor  of  W'olpl.ert's  birthplace  in  Netherlands;  (3)  I'^latlands  Neck 
by  Director  W'outer  \'an  Twiller. 

Van  Corlaer  transferred  his  grant  to  Van  Twiller  in  1638,  but  this  transfer  ^yas 
later  forbidden  and  in  1652  all  grants  to  \'an  Twiller  were  annulled;  V'an 
Kouwonliovcn's  grnnt  was  annulled  in  1652,  but  later  confirmed  again.  His  widow 
married  Robt.  t  Klbcrtse  Stoothoff,  who  acquired  the  patent  and  most  of  the  land; 
a  descendant,  Wilhelmus  Stoothofl"  sold  the  patent  rights  to  (^ol.  Johannes  Lott 
of  I'^latlands,  whose  three  sons  passed  them  down  to  hteir  descendants. 

The  other  flats  passed  to  the  Dutch  Government  and  were  known  as  "the 
Governor's  I'^arm,"  and  during  Stuyvesant's  time  were  managed  by  Pieter 
Clausen  VVVckofF. 


22t 


BROOKLYN 


ROUTE  35a. 

SECTION  I— WILLIAMSBURG 

Take  Grand  Street  car  from  Manhattan  side  of  the  IVilliamsburg 

Bridge. 

Note,  while  crossing,  the  Queensboro  Bridge  and  Blackwell's 
Island  to  the  left.  The  city  has  utilized  the  space  under  the  ap- 
proaches to  the  bridge  from  the  Williamsburg  Plaza  as  a  play- 
ground for  children.  See  on  the  left  in  the  Plaza  the  equestrian 
statue  of  Washington,  presented  to  the  city  by  ex-Register  James 
R.  Howe;  it  was  designed  by  Henry  W.  Shrady  and  cost  $50,000. 
The  Plaza  is  the  starting  point  for  cars  running  in  every  direction. 

Williamsburg.  The  village,  named  for  Colonel  Williams,  U. 
S.  A.,  who  surveyed  the  land,  was  begun  soon  after  the  Revolu- 
tion. In  1792  a  New  York  merchant  named  Woodhull  established 
a  horse  ferry  from  Grand  Street  to  this  section  and  the  village 
clustered  around  the  ferry.  It  grew  rapidly,  due  to  natural  advan- 
tages, nearness  to  New  York,  and  convenience  to  the  farmers 
of  the  interior.  A  second  ferry  was  started  soon  after  and  the 
rivalry  thus  induced  stimulated  growth.  A  church  was  organ- 
ized, a  school  and  a  distillery  were  added  and  many  improvements 
followed.  The  village  secured  a  charter  in  1827,  and  in  1829  it 
had  a  population  of  1007.  Then  came  speculation  and  the  crash 
of  1837,  after  which  the  town  settled  down  to  steady  growth  and 
prosperity.  In  1849  it  became  a  city,  and  in  1852  it  had  a  popu- 
lation of  40,000;  in  1854  it  was  annexed  to  Brooklyn.  The  neces- 
sary expansion  of  New  York  City  to  accommodate  its  increasing 
population,  together  with  the  erection  of  the  bridge,  has  com- 
pletely changed  the  farms  of  old  Williamsburg  to  a  compactly 
built  city. 


227  % 


Route  35a  HISTORICAL  GUIDE  Williamsburg 


Plate  XLIV.  C  K, 


Nearly  all  the  old  landmarks  have  disappeared  and  it  is  difficult  t 
locate  the  landmarks  of  but  a  few  years  ago.     The  Town  Hall 
was  situated  at  the  corner  of  Bedford  Avenue  and  South  Second 
Street,  now  occupied  by  the  Brooklyn  Union  Gas  Co.     The  old 
building  was  torn  down  previous  to  1874. 

At  the  corner  of  Metropolitan  and  Bedford  Avenues  is  an 
old  hip-roofed  house  and  another  may  be  seen  at  the  corner  of 
Bedford  Avenue  and  South  Third  Street.  On  the  opposite  side  of 
the  avenue  is  a  dilapidated  brick  building,  the  remains  of  the 
Pentecostal  Tabernacle  (demolished  1909). 

228 


BROOKLYN 


ROUTE  35b. 

SECTION   IL— GREENPOINT. 
Take  a  "  Cross  Town "  car  from  the  Plaza  at  Williamsburg. 

The  earliest  settlement  at  Greenpoint  was  that  of  Dirck  Volck- 
ertsen  in  1645,  whose  house  was  on  the  shore  at  the  foot  of  the 
present  Calyer  Street.  He  was  also  called  Dirck  the  Norman, 
from  which  is  derived  the  name  of  Norman's  Kill.  Greenpoint 
was  known  as  the  "  Keike "  or  "  Keikout,"  meaning  "  Lookout 
Bluff." 

There  was  no  attempt  at  any  village  organization  until  1660, 
when  the  inhabitants  were  required  to  concentrate,  so  as  to  be 
better  prepared  against  Indian  attack. 

The  place  had  several  owners;  in  1663  the  Meserole  family 
owaied  107  acres;  besides  this  there  were  patent  lands  granted  by 
the  Dutch  governors.  The  town  had  a  quiet  history  till  the  Revo- 
lution, v^hen  the  Hessian  allies  of  the  British  troops  were  quar- 
tered among  the  people.  After  the  declaration  of  peace  there 
were  but  four  or  five  families  in  Greenpoint  and  the  place  was 
almost  apart  from  the  world,  except  for  the  row  boat  ferry  con- 
nection with  New  York.  The  town  has  grown  steadily  since  1832 
and  in  1854  it  was  consolidated  with  Brooklyn. 

The  overflowing  population  from  Manhattan  has  transformed 
this  section  from  the  old  time  farms  to  solid  blocks  of  buildings. 
In  early  days  the  farmers  looked  to  Bushwick  Square  for  their 
central  activities  and  it  was  not  until  1846-50  that  this  section 
developed  its  own  public  conveniences.  Men  living  to-day  have 
trudged  to  Bushwick  to  school,  driven  to  Bushwick  to  church, 
and  carried  their  farm  produce  to  the  Bushwick  town  dock  for 
shipment. 

During  the  middle  of  the  last  century  ship  building  was  a  suc- 
cessful business  all  along  the  water  front.  The  people  had  com- 
munication with  New  York  by  means  of  small  row  boats  from 
various  points  along  the  shore,  the  most  important  being  the 
ferry  at  the  foot  of  Java  Street. 


2S^ 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Greenpoint 


BROOKLYN 


35b  Route 


(Figures  refer  to  Plate  XLV). 
The  most  prominent  landmarks  now  to  be  seen  are: 

5.  The  Meserole  Homestead,  1000  Lorimer  Street,  between 
Meserole  and  Norman  Avenues;  originally  a  typical  Dutch  farm- 
house, as  shown  by  an  old  photograph,  it  has  been  enlarged  until 
nothing  now  remains  of  the  first  structure  but  the  wing  which 
was  built  in  i/Sg. 

10.  Original  building  of  St.  Anthony's  Roman  Catholic  Church, 
150  India  Street,  erected  about  1857.  It  is  made  of  brick  and  is 
now  a  wire  works  factory. 

The  first  Dutch  Reformed  Church,  built  about  1850,  was  on  Java 
Street;  the  second  building,  still  in  use,  is  on  Kent  Street,  between 
Manhattan  and  Franklin  Avenues. 

HISTORIC  SITES. 

1.  The  Bennett  Homestead,  later  occupied  by  John  Meserole. 

2.  Stone  house  built  by  Captain  Pieter  Praa  about  1700. 

3.  House  built  by  John  A.  Meserole  about  1790. 

4.  Location  of  the  house  of  Dirck  Volckertsen,  the  Norman.  The 
first  settler  on  Greenpoint  and  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  Kings 
County. 

7.  The  Calyer  Homestead. 

8.  House  built  by  John  I.  Meserole  about  1800. 

9.  House  occupied  by  Volckert  Dirksen,  the  eldest  son  of  Dirck 
Volckertsen,  and  afterwards  occupied  by  Jacob  IMeserolc. 

ADDENDA,  1912 

Duryee  House,  Frost  Street,  between  Humboldt  and  Graham  Streets^ 
an  old  shingled  building  on  the  former  Blackwell  (now  Bli-s)  estate, 
said  to  be  one  hundred  years  old  and  once  occupied  by  Washington. 
A  house  of  old  Dutch  architecture  stands  at  418  Meeker  Avenue,  near 
Penny  Bridge. 


231^ 


HIST^ORICAL  GUIDE 


ROUTE  35c. 

SECTION   III.— BUSHWICK. 
Take  Grand  Street  car  from  the  Manhattan  side  of  Williamsburg 
Bridge,  transfer  to   the  Metropolitan  Avenue  car  and  ride  to 
Bushwick  Avenue;  go  north  three  blocks  to  old  Bushwick  Square, 
the  centre  of  the  original  Dutch  village  of  Bushwick. 

Jan  der  Swede  is  the  first  name  connected  with  the  settlement  of  Bush- 
wick; he  came  here  1645-50.  In  1661  Governor  Stuyvesant  had  the  village  laid 
out  and  later  gave  it  the  name  of  Boswijck,"  or  *'  Town  of  the  Woods;"  at 
the  same  time  he  inaugurated  some  measures  of  local  government. 

The  English  occupancy  disturbed  the  Dutch  but  little,  though  the  new  rule 
was  more  arbitrary  than  that  to  which  they  had  been  accustomed,  especially  as 
to  church  affairs.  In  1665  the  first  sermon  was  preached  here  and,  in  order  to 
minister  to  the  spiritual  needs  of  the  people,  clergymen  came  from  the  Flat- 
bush  church  for  over  forty  years.  Previous  to  1700,  there  is  mention  of  a 
**  Commons  "  for  the  care  and  watering  of  cattle.  In  1687  Governor  Dongan 
granted  increased  privileges  in  a  new  patent.  Under  the  English  rule  the  popu- 
lation grew  to  about  165,  while  it  had  been  about  100  during  the  Dutch  control. 
Previous  to  the  Revolution  the  town  was  represented  in  the  Provincial  Congress 
and  had  a  militia  company.  After  the  Battle  of  Long  Island  the  Hessians, 
quartered  on  the  inhabitants  with  all  that  pertains  to  such  an  occupancy,  kept  the 
people  in  a  continued  state  of  irritability.  After  peace  was  declared  many 
of  the  Hessians  took  up  residence  here.  It  was  joined  to  Brooklyn  in  1854. 
Owing  to  the  impulse  of  a  crowding  population,  but  few  landmarks  remain,  but 
these  are  of  an  interesting  character. 

(Figures  refer  to  Plate  XLVI). 

1.  Reformed  Church  of  Bushwick,  organized  1654.  The  first 
church  was  built  in  1709  and  the  present  structure  in  1825. 

2.  Bushwick  Churchyard,  containing  a  few  headstones;  entrance 
to  the  left  on  Humboldt  Avenue.  Nearby  is  the  site  of  the 
Bcadell  Homestead,  at  the  corner  of  Metropolitan  and  Bushwich 
Avenues. 

The  old  Wood  Point  Road,  starting  at  the  church,  is  worthy 
of  mention;  it  was  a  typical  country  road,  crossing  the  fields  to 
the  cemetery  near  the  Devoe  House  (8),  thence  across  the  mea- 
dows and  hills  to  the  Town  Dock.  The  first  part  of  the  road  is 
still  in  use  and  is  plotted  on  the  map. 

3.  Old  Town  House  site,  opposite  the  present  church  on  Wood 
Point  Road.  Near  it  men  were  exposed  for  punishment;  courts 
and  elections  were  held  in  its  rooms;  later  it  became  a  tavern, 
the  town  fathers  having  leased  it  for  such  a  purpose;  finally,  it 
was  sold  and  then  disappeared. 

Go  east  on  Orient  Avenue  to 
Cooper  Park,  given  to  the  city  of  Brooklyn  in  1895  by  the 
Cooper  family.     Behind  the  comfort  house  is  a  brick  shed  where 
the   Coopers  experimented  in  the  manufacture  of  varnish.  On 
Morgan  Avenue  at  the  rear  of  the  Park  are 

4  and  5.  Two  Cooper  Houses,  the  larger  built  by  William 
Cooper  for  his  own  occupancy  about  i860  and  the  other  built 

232 


Bushwick 


BROOKLYN 


35c  Route 


DlAGRAf^  BUSHWICK 


OLD    TOWN   C  C  M  C  T 


□□□□□iOt 


PA  RK  EF^ 

 T 


\  JACKSON  2^     ^  ^  T  B£NToriv 


Plate  XLVI.    Route  35c. 


C.  K. 


by  him  for  his  niece.  On  Maspeth  Avenue,  opposite  the  north 
side  of  the  Park,  see 

6.  Peter  Cooper  Tenements;  a  row  of  wooden  houses  with  tall 
pillars  in  the  middle  of  the  row,  erected  by  Peter  Cooper  for  his 
workmen.  In  the  rear  of  the  row  was  the  old  Cooper  Glue  Fac- 
tory. 

Peter  Cooper  was  born  in  1791  of  Revolutionary  stock  and 
died  in  1883.  In  his  youth  he  mastered  a  number  of  trades  and 
later  entered  business,  engaging  in  the  manufacture  of  iron  and 
machinery.  He  constructed  the  first  locomotive  engine  built  in 
this  country  and  was  largely  instrumental  in  the  laying  of  the 
Atlantic  Cable.  His  public  spirit  and  philanthropy  are  best  evi- 
denced in  Cooper  Union,  a  lasting  monument  to  his  memory. 
The  two  brothers  married  the  Beadell  sisters. 

2J3 


Route  35c 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Busbwick 


Go   north   through  Banzett  Street    (officially  mapped  as  Debevoise 
Avenue),  passing  on  the  right 

7.  An  old  house  (painted  red)  in  the  middle  of  the  field  to  the 
east  (northeast  corner  of  Maspeth  and  Morgan  Avenues).  It  was 
built  from  the  timbers  taken  from  the  old     Manor  House"  (9). 

8.  Devoe  House,  a  small  stone  building  inside  the  enclosure 
between  Parker  and  Bennett  Streets  on  Banzett  Avenue;  en- 
trance on  Bennett  Street  through  Trotter's  ice-cream  factory. 
It  is  evidently  the  lower  floor  of  an  old  Dutch  stone  house. 
Notice  in  the  living-room  the  wooden  beams  in  the  ceiling  and  a 
fine  example  of  an  old  carved  mantel. 

C.  Nearby  is  the  site  of  the  old  Town  Cemetery  of  which  no  trace 
remains.  In  1879  all  the  bodies  were  removed  to  the  churchyard  and 
the  cemetery  obliterated. 

At  the  corner  of  Meeker  and  Kingsland  x\venues  were 

9.  The  Manor  House,  sometimes  called  the  Wyckoff  House 
(7)  and 

10.  The  Debevoise  Huuse  and  barn.  Both  houses  belonged  to 
families  prominent  in  public  affairs.  The  barn  was  used  by  the 
Hessians  during  the  Revolution.  The  Wyckoff  House  was  built 
by  Theodorus  Polhemus  of  Flatbush,  who  represented  the  town  in 
the  Provincial  Congress  from  1775-77.  His  children  sold  out  to 
the  Wyckoff  family.  The  Bushwick  branch  of  the  Debevoise 
family  is  descended  from  the  Huguenot  DeBevoise,  the  first 
school  teacher  of  Brooklyn. 

11.  Van  Raust  House  site  at  245  Withers  Street,  near  Kings- 
land  Avenue.  This  house  was  occupied  by  Captain  McPherson, 
leader  of  the  company  of  men  from  whom  the  British  obtained 
guides  for  their  expeditions.  After  peace  was  declared  these 
guides  came  to  Bushwick  and  encamped  there. 

12.  Skillman  House  site,  37  Frost  Street,  between  Lorimer  and 
Union  Avenues,  the  house  being  torn  down  about  1880.  It  is  said 
that  Washington  was  entertained  here.  During  the  stay  of  the 
guides  mentioned  (in  11)  a  party  of  Americans  planned  to  secure 
some  boats  b^.longing  to  the  British.  These  boats  drifted  to 
the  shore  near  the  Skillman  farm  and  the  Skillman  house  was 
the  gathering  place  of  the  party  making  the  capture. 

13.  Conselyea  House  site,  corner  of  Humboldt  Avenue  and 
Jackson  Street.  The  Conselyea  family  was  a  noted  one  during 
the  Revolution.  William  Conselyea  was  hung  in  his  well  by  the 
British  to  make  him  name  the  hiding-place  of  his  money. 

234 


Bushwick 


BROOKLYN 


35c  Route 


Return  to  Bushzvick  Square  and  take  east  bound  Metropolitan  Av- 
enue car  to  the  bridge,  crossing  Newtown  Creek;  transfer  to  east 
bound  Maspeth  car  to  Flushing  Avenue  and  take  car  marked  Park 
Rozv,  soon  passing  on  the  right  and  left  several  houses  of  old  Dutch 
architecture  belonging  to  the  Wyckoff  family  originally  (Excursion 
XI,  Section  III,  43). 

After  passing  under  the  Manhattan  Bridge,  see  on  the  right 
the  United  States  Marine  Hospital,  Wallabout  Market  and  the 
Navy  Yard  (Excursion  VIII^  Section  II). 


235 


NOTES 


236 


NOTES 


237 


238 


EXCURSION  VIII. 

HISTORIC   BROOKLYN— PART  I. 

By  Frank  Bergen  Kelley. 

Revised,  1909,  with  the  aid  of  George  W.  Nash,  M.D.,  and  1912,  with 
the  aid  of  Charles  A.  Ditmas. 

Copyright,  1905,  by  the  City  History  Club  of  New  York. 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


WAL. 


1^1 


DIAGRAM 

1^^.  BROOKLYN  HEfeHTS 

BOH^OUO-H  HALL 
\'3  action  1.  SMcar-sion  V/Jf. 


Plate  XLVII.   Route  36. 


240 


BROOKLYN 


The  *  refers  to  Addenda,  1912,  pp.  264-265. 
ROUTE  36 

SECTION   I.— BROOKLYN   HEIGHTS  TO  BOROUGH  HALL. 

(Figures  refer  to  Plate  XLVII). 

Take  South  Ferry  to  Atlantic  Avenue;  walk  up  to  Hicks  Street, 
north  to  Montague  Street  and  west  to  Montague  Terrace,  from  which 
is  obtained  a  fine  view  of  Manhattan  and  the  Harbor;  or  Wall 
Street  Ferry  to  Montague  Street. 

1.  Grace  Episcopal  Church,  organized  in  1847.  When  the 
church  floor  was  renewed  in  1899  the  old  Remsen  Well  was  dis- 
covered; it  is  nearly  under  the  font. 

The  old  Grace  Court  Spring,  destroyed  in  1908,  was  on  the  Prince 
Estate,  between  Grace  Court  and  Remsen  Street,  on  the  bluff.  The 
Remsen  House  stood  one  block  in  the  rear  of  the  church  on  Joralemon 
Street.  The  family  owned  a  large  farm  on  the  Heights,  Joris 
Remsen  having  bought  it  of  his  father-in-law  in  1706. 

Walk  north  on  Columbia  Heights,  noting  the  small  parks  along  the 
edge  of  the  bluff. 

Brooklyn  Heights  was  the  center  of  the  residence  section  of  the  Old  Ferrv 
Village.  As  this  Excursion  chiefly  describes  historic  houses  still  in  existence,  and 
as  few  important  landmarks  remain  here,  the  student  is  referred  to  Stiles' 
**  History  of  Kings  County,"  pp.  105-139,  and  Stiles'  "  History  of  Brooklyn," 
Vol,  II,  Chap.  2,  for  interesting  itineraries  through  the  old  streets  of  Ferry 
Village  in  1816. 

At  the  corner  of  Henry  and  Clark  Streets  is  the  Grace  M.  E. 
Church,  successor  to  the  "  Old  Sands  Street  Church,"  organized 
in  1794.    See  tablet. 

Turn  east  at  Orange  Street. 

2.  Pljrmouth  Church,  between  Hicks  and  Henry  Streets,  a 
plain  brick  building  erected  in  1847-50,  seating  2800  persons.  Ste 
the  stained  glass  windows  representing  the  History  of  Puritan- 
ism." A  building  is  planned  nearby  as  a  Beecher  Memorial. 
Henry  Ward  Beecher,  born  in  Litchfield,  Conn.,  in  1813,  came  to 
Brooklyn  in  1847  when  he  was  installed  here  as  pastor.  In  the 
pulpit  of  Plymouth  Church  he  acted  as  auctioneer  one  Sunday 
morning  (Feb.  5,  i860)  and  sold  a  slave  girl  into  freedom.  He 
died  March  8,  i887.*i 

241 


Route  36 


HISTORICAL    GUIDE     L.  I.  Historical  So. 


On  Cranberry  and  Hicks  Streets  are  two  hip-roofed  houses. 

Continue  on  Orange  through  Nassau  Street  across  Fulton  to  Adams 
Street  and  walk  east  to 

3.  Public  School  No.  i,  at  Concord  and  Adams  Streets,  site 
of  the  first  district  school  of  Brooklyn  (1816,  rebuilt  1842),  where 
also  was  held  the  first  (Union)  Brooklyn  Sunday  School  in  1816. 
See  tablet  in  the  gable  on  the  front  of  the  building. 

Go  north  on  Concord  to  Jay  Street  and  east  to 

4.  St.  James  Pro-Cathedral,  Jay  and  Chapel  Streets,  the  first 
Roman  Catholic  Church  on  Long  Island  (organized  1822).  See 
bust  of  Peter  Turner  (1787-1853)  and  two  tablets  dedicated  to  him 
as  founder  of  the  first  Roman  Catholic  Church  and  school  on 
Long  Island. 

There  are  about  6,000  graves  in  the  adjoining  churchyard. 
Continue  on  Jay  Street  to  Myrtle  Avenue  and  walk  to 

5.  Brooklyn  Borough  Hall  (begun  1836,  completed  1840),  the 
original  City  Hall  of  Brooklyn.  See  in  front  the  statue  of  Beecher 
by  J.  Q.  A.  Ward.  In  the  space  behind  the  hall,  once  oc'"*upied  by 
a  military  garden,  is  the  County  Court  House. 

In  the  Borough  Hall  Subway  Station  see  the  tablet  commemor- 
ating the  opening  of  the  first  Subway  uniting  Manhattan  and 
Brooklyn,  January  9,  1908.  *2 

Walk  west  on  Fulton  to  Pierrepont  Street  and  south  to  Clinton  Street. 

6.  Long  Island  Historical  Society  at  Clinton  and  Pierrepont 
Streets  (open  to  the  public),  founded  1863;  contains  an  excellent 
reference  library,  rich  in  books  on  local  history.  The  museum, 
in  addition  to  a  general  collection  of  interesting  articles  and 
prints,  has  a  large  number  of  specimens  illustrating  the  Natural 
History  of  Brooklyn  and  many  relics  and  memorials  illustrative  of 
Colonial  life.    The  curator  will  explain  the  collection. 


242 


BROOKLYN 


ROUTE  37. 

SECTION  II.— FULTON  STREET,  FORT  GREENE  PARK 
AND  NAVY  YARD 

(Figures  refer  to  Plate  XLVIII). 

Take  Fulton  Street  surface  or  elevated  Vines  to  Flatbush  Avenue, 

passing 

7.  Site  of  the  First  Dutch  Church  of  Brooklyn,  on  Fulton  Street,  near 
Lawrence.  It  was  erected  in  1666,  rebuilt  in  1766,  and  removed  to  Joralemon 
Street  in  1807.  Until  1654  the  people  had  to  go  to  New  Amsterdam  for  church 
^rvices;  from  that  time  until  1660  they  were  obliged  to  attend  the  church  at 
jFlatbush,  when  a  petition  was  made  for  a  church  of  their  own.  This  was 
granted  and  ihey  worshipped  in  a  barn  while  measures  were  taken  for  the 
erection  of  a  building. 

8.  Tablet,  erected  by  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution  on  the  Smith- 
Gray  Building,  Fulton  Street,  corner  of  Flatbush  Avenue,  to  mark 
the  line  of  defence  in  the  battle  of  Long  Island  "  from  the  Wall- 
about  to  the  Gowanus."  Near  by  is  the  site  of  Labon's  Inn,  a 
road-house  which  was  occupied  by  the  Hessians. 

Go  north  on  Hudson  to  JVilloughby  Avenue  and  east  to  Fort  Greene 

Park. 

g.  Martyrs'  Tomb,  Fort  Greene  Park.  The  tablet  over  th,-^ 
entrance  to  the  tomb  commemmorates  the  "  American  Seamen, 
Soldiers  and  Cit«'zens  who  perished  on  the  prison  ships"  of  the 
British  at  the  Wallabout  during  the  Revolution.  This  is  the  cor- 
ner stone  of  the  vault  erected  by  the  Tammany  Society,  April, 
1808.    The  tomb  contains  the  remains  of  ii^ooo  patriots. 

Fort  Putnam  stood  here  during  the  Revolution,  the  name  being 
changed  to  Fort  Greene  during  the  War  of  1812. 

The  monument  recently  erected  by  the  city  is  145  feet  high, 
including  a  bronze  urn  20  feet  high.  The  architects  were  ]\IcKim, 
Mead  and  White.  The  entire  cost  was  defrayed  by  contributions 
from  the  U.  S.  Government,  N.  Y.  State  Government,  New  Yorl^ 
City  and  the  Prison  Ship  Martyrs  Association. 
IValk  north  on  St.  Edzvard's  Street  through  City  Park  to  Navy  Street. 

10.  Brooklyn  Navy  Yard  (entrance  opposite  Sands  Street),  es- 
tablished 1801. 

N.  B.    Secure  pass  at  the  gate. 

When  inside  the  reservation,  follow  Park  Avenue  and  First 
Street  to   Trophy   Park   and   see   ancient   and   modern  Spanish 

243 


Route  37 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Wallabout 


cannon,  Spanish  contact  mines,  Civil  War  relics  and  a  monu- 
ment to  the  sailors  who  fell  in  China  in  1856.  *3 

In  Wallabout  Bay  were  located  the  infamous  Jersey  and  other 
prison  ships  during  the  Revolution,  and  in  a  vault  just  outside 
the  Navy  Yard  rested  the  bones  of  the  prisoners  until  removed  in 
1873  to  Fort  Greene  Park. 

The  surrounding  region  was  known  as  The  Wallabout  Waal- 
boght  ")  and  was  settled  in  1637  by  Joris  Jansen  de  Rapelje  and 
other  "  Walloons  or  Huguenots  who  had  fled  to  Holland  for 
refuge. 

Adjoining  the  Navy  Yard  is  Wallabout  Market,  which  is  well 
worth  a  visit,  especially  in  the  morning. 


I 


Plate  XLVHI.    Route  37-  C.  K, 


244 


BROOKLYN 
ROUTE  38 

SECTION    III.— PROSPFXT   PARK,   FLATBUSH  AND 
FLATLANDS 

(The  figures  refer  to  Plate  XLIX). 

(The  points  in  Section  III  can  be  covered  in  an  automobile 
or  carriage  in  three  hours.    See  Automobile  Routes,  Part  VI). 

ROUTE  38. 

A.    PROSPECT  PARK 

Take  Flatbush  Avenue  ear  from  Atlantie  Avenue  terminal  of  the 
Subway  to  the  entrance  of  Prospect  Park. 

At  the  entrance  to  Prospect  Park  see 

11.  Soldiers'  and  Sailors*  Memorial  Arch,  erected  in  1897  to 
the  memory  of  the  heroes  of  the  Civil  War.  The  arch  was  de- 
signed by  John  H.  Duncan  and  the  bronze  quadriga  and  the  tab- 
lets by  Powers  and  MacMonnies.    To  the  left  is 

12.  The  Brooklyn  Institute  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  which  has  a 
number  of  departments  in  each  of  which  lectures  and  courses 
of  instruction  are  regularly  given.  It  has  an  excellent  museum. 
The  building  is  open  on  week  days  from  9  to  6  and  is  free  except 
on  Mondays  and  Tuesdays. 

A  branch  of  the  Institute,  the  Children's  Museum,  is  located  in 
Bedford  Park  in  a  Colonial  residence.  It  may  be  reached  from  the 
entrance  to  Prospect  Park  via  Eastern  Parkway  to  Brooklyn 
Avenue  and  four  blocks  north  of  Park  Place,  or  by  Bergen  Av- 
enue cars  to  Brooklyn  Avenue,  or  by  Fulton  Street  *' L "  (City 
Line)  to  Brooklyn  Avenue  Station  and  walk  south  to  Bedford 
Park.  The  collections  are  selected  with  special  reference  to  the 
needs  of  children  and  illustrate  the  various  departments  of  science. 
The  historical  room  is  of  particular  interest  for  its  models  0/ 
colonial  houses,  furniture,  costumes  and  other  articles  pertaining 
to  the  life  of  the  colonists. 

At  Prospect  Park  take  electric  omnibus  (25  cents)  or  walk  to 

13.  Battle  Pass  Tablet  (on  the  East  Drive  near  the  public  play- 
grounds). The  tablet  marks  Valley  Grove,  the  outer  line  of  de- 
fence in  the  Battle  of  Long  Island.  The  chief  part  of  the  battle 
was  fought  in  the  region  now  included  in  Prospect  Park. 

245 


Route  38 


HISTORICAL    GUIDE  Prospect  Park 


14.  Maryland  Monument,  on  Lookout  Hill,  erected  in  1895 
through  the  efforts  of  the  Maryland  Society,  Sons  of  the  Amer- 
ican Revolution,  to  honor  "  Maryland's  Four  Hundred  "  who,  on 
this  battlefield,  August  27,  1776,  saved  the  American  Army. 
(For  sketch  of  battle  see  Excursion  XH;  for  full  accounts  see 
Stiles*  and  Johnston's  works),   (p.  387) 

Within  the  Park  are  statues  and  monuments  of  Payne,  Irving, 
Moore,  Lincoln,  Stranahan  and  others. 

From  the  Monument,  walk  to  the  Willinck  (Malbone  Street)  exit  of 
the  Park  to  Flatbush  Avenue. 


Plate  XLIX.    Routes  38,  39.  C.  K. 


24IS 


BROOKLYN 


ROUTE  39. 

B.  FLATBUSH 
(If  Flatbush  is  made  a  separate  excursion,  take  Brighton  Beach 
"  L"  train  to  Prospect  Park  Station.) 

Flatbush,  in  the  early  days  called  Midwout,  was  first  settled  in  1634;  the 
origin  of  the  present  name  is  lost  in  obscurity.  The  land  was  purchased  several 
times  from  the  Indians.  For  many  years  the  town  was  under  the  absolute  rule 
of  the  Governor;  in  1653,  the  people,  chafing  at  his  arbitrary  methods,  forced 
from  him  a  little  show  of  self-government  which  was  granted,  perhaps  as  a  re- 
ward for  help  rendered  in  putting  down  pirates.  The  English  occupation 
brought  a  change  in  laws  and  customs,  but  the  inhabitants  kept  on  placidly  in 
their  own  ideas  of  liberty  and  the  pursuit  of  happiness.  The  stocks  and  whip-  • 
ping  posts  were  provided,  as  was  usual.  In  early  part  of  the  eighteenth 
century  the  road  to  Flatbush  was  made  a  turnpike  with  a  toll  gate  at  what  is 
now  the  corner  of  Fulton  Street  and  Flatbush  Avenue;  in  1842  it  was  moved 
to  near  Hanson  Place,  and,  later,  as  Brooklyn  grew,  still  further  away  until, 
after  a  number  of  years,  it  stood  at  about  where  Fenimore  Street  meets  the 
Avenue.  The  town  lay  in  the  track  of  the  Battle  9f  Long  Island  (see  Excur- 
sion XII)  where  the  Hessians  overcame  the  American  forces  under  Sullivan. 
The  subsequent  quartering  of  British  soldiers  on  the  town  was  a  source  of 
keen  hardship.  Since  the  Revolution,  Flatbush  has  progressed  quietly;  in  1894 
it  was  annexed  to  Brooklyn.  It  has  always  been  a  residence  section  and  is 
now  an  important  suburb  in  Greater  New  York. 

Take  Flatbush  Avenue   car  south   to  Flatbush  Reformed  Church, 

passing 

15.  Lefferts  Homestead  (pre-Revolutionary),  563  Flatbush 
Avenue. 

16.  Vanderbilt  Homestead  (pre-Revolutionary),  610  Flatbush 
Avenue.    See  Dutch  oven  and  fire-place  in  the  cellar.  Demolished, 

17.  Birdsall  House,  612  Flatbush  Avenue,  once  famous  for  its 
ivy  and  garden.       It  was  formerly  Judge  Leffert  Lefferts'  house. 

18.  Melrose  Hall  site  (built  1750),  corner  of  Winthrop  Street; 
noted  for  its  legends. 

19.  Flatbush  Dutch  Reformed  Church,  corner  of  Church  Ave- 
nue; built  1793-6  on  foundations  of  the  second  church  (1698), 
which  was  on  the  site  of  the  original  building  erected  in  1654, 
this  being  the  oldest  church  on  Long  Island.  See  tablet  erected 
by  the  Colonial  Daughter^  of  the  Seventeenth  Century.  In  early 
days  the  dead  were  buried  beneath  the  church,  and  for  many 
years  no  tombstones  were  used  for  fear  of  attracting  the  atten- 
tion of  the  Indians.  In  a  part  of  the  yard  unmarked  by  stonesi' 
are  the  remains  of  many  who  died  in  the  Battle  of  Long  Island. 
The  church  was  used  by  the  British  as  a  military  prison.  Many 
of  the  epitaphs  are  in  Dutch. 

20.  Erasmus  Hall  High  School  (formerly  Academy),  near 
Snyder  Avenue,  built  in  1786  by  private  subscription  (Hamilton 
and  Burr  contributing),  and  chartered  by  the  Regents  in  1787- 
Wm.  Alex  Duer,  son  of  Lady  Kitty  Duer,  was  an  early  graduate; 


247 


Route  39 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Flatbush 


in  1797  John  Henry  Livingston,  first  Theological  Professor  of  the 
Reformed  Church,  was  the  head  of  the  school.  It  became  a  pub- 
lic school  in  1896  and  is  hidden  by  the  modern  building. 


22.  Site  of  /.  C.  Bergen  House,  corner  of  Albermarle  Road,  built  1735. 
When  occupied  by  David  Clarkson  in  1776,  it  was  sacked  by  the  British, 
and  later  it  was  used  as  a  military  prison.  The  original  parsonage  for 
Dominic  Freeman,  who  served  the  Dutch  church,  1705-41. 

23.  Lett  House,  1084  Flatbush  Avenue. 

24.  Site  of  Vanderveer  Homestead,  1159  Flatbush  Avenue,  built 
in  1787  (or  1788)  on  the  site  of  an  earlier  house.  The  land  on  which 
the  house  stood  was  granted  to  the  ancestor  of  the  present  owner  in 
1660,  by  Governor  Stuyvesant.    Demolished  191 1. 

26.  Henry  S.  Ditmas  House,  corner  Ditmas  and  Flatbush  Avenues, 
built  about  1800 ;  notice  Dutch  door. 

27.  Old  House  at  1240  Flatbush  Avenue. 

28.  Cortelyoii-Vandcrveer  House  site,  1249  Flatbush  Avenue.  The 
house  has  been  moved  to  Ditmas  Avenue  and  East  Twenty-sixth  Street, 
behind  the  Cortelyou  Club  House.  Just  east  was  the  well-known 
Vanderveer  Mill,  between  Paerdegat  Pond  and  Canarsie  Lane  This  was 
the  first  Long  Island  wdndmill  and  was  built  in  1804.  It  was  used  as  a 
refuge  for  negroes  during  the  Draft  Riots.  It  was  burned  in  1879.  See 
illustration  in  L.  I.  Historical  Society. 

Go  west  to  Avenue  G  to  Amersfoort  Place 

29.  Another  Ditmas  House,  erected  1827,  by  George  Van  Nuyse. 

Return  and  continue  south,  passing 

30.  Old  House  and  pump  on  the  lower  corner  of  Avenue  J. 


248 


BROOKLYN 


ROUTE  40. 

C.  FLATLANDS 
(Figures  refer  to  Plate  L). 

"Xieuw  Amcrsfoort."  the  Dutcli  name  for  Klatlands,  was  established  16.^6, 
the  first  Dutch  plantation  on  Long  Island.  The  Canarsie  Indians  occupied  this 
region,  and  in  the  great  shell  heaps  at  Canarsie  and  at  Bergen  Beach  may  be 
found  traces  of  their  wampum  industry.  Here  the  Indians  and  their  Dutch 
successors  raised  crops  of  maize  on  the  **  Great  Flats  on  Flatlands  Plains." 
The  "Indian  Path"  ran  from  Brooklyn  Ferry  to  Bergen  Island,  following,  in 
part  the  "  King's  Highway  "  of  to-day.  The  first  patent  recorded  was  in  1636 
to  Andreas  Hudden  and  Wolphert  Gerritsen  \"an  Kouwenhoven,  and  a  local 
court  was  established  in  1654.  The  town  managed  to  get  along  until  1667 
without  a  charter.  For  over  a  century  it  had  only  ten  men  at  the  head 
of  atTairs.  Political  changes  made  but  little  impression  on  the  people.  Dur- 
ing the  Revolution,  when  the  English  troops  were  quartered  on  the  town,  the 
Dominie  was  allowed  to  continue  preaching,  a  rare  occurrence  at  that  time. 
Flatlands  was  annexed  to  Brooklyn  in  1896. 

This  region  resembles  Holland  in  its  general  flatness,  marshiness,  dikes  and 
creeks,  and  its  outlook  over  salt  meadows  and  Jamaica  Bay,  which  is  often 
dotted  with  slow-moving  sailing  vessels. 

I.  Flatlands  Church,  Flatbush  Avenue  north  of  King's  High- 
way, built  1847-8,  on  the  site  of  former  buildings  of  1662  and  1794. 
Some  of  the  original  colonial  furniture  is  in  the  manse.  Near  the 
church  is  the  old  graveyard  and  the  old  school  on  the  original 
school  lot.  Notice  the  new  public  school  just  north.  Several 
Dutch  houses  and  old  barns  may  be  seen  in  the  neighborhood. 
(See  14).  The  church  was  organized  in  1654. *4 
Continue  on  Flatbush  Avenue  car  cast  on  Avenue  N  to  Mill  Lane. 
Go  south  to 

2.  Schenck-Crooke  House,  buiU  about  1656.  See  the  great  rafters, 
which  are  built  ship  fashiou,  and  the  old  fireplaces.*5 

3.  Bergen  Homestead  on  East  Seventy-second  Street  (Bergen 
Beach),  built  about  1655.  See  the  old  fireplaces,  Dutch  door  and 
knocker. *6 

Return  on  car  to  Flatlands  Avenue  and  zvallc  z^'cst 

4.  Old  Van  Wyck  Homestead  (demolished). 

Go  south  on  Kimball  Street,  passing  '/ 

5.  Jeromus  Lott-Vanderveer  House,  corner  of  Avenue  P. 

6.  Lott  House  (between  Fillmore  Avenue  and  Avenue  S), 
built  in  1800  of  material  from  the  original  homestead. 

This  entire  section  was  first  granted  to  Andries  Hudden  and 
Wolphert  Gerritsen  in  1636  by  Wouter  Van  Twiller,  the  grant 
being  confirmed  by  Stuyvesant  in  1658  and  reconfirmed  by  Gov- 
ernor Nicoll  in  1667.    A  portion  came  to  the  Lott  family  in  1719 

-49 


Route  40 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Flatlands 


Plate  L.    Route  40.  C,  K. 


(see  copy  of  the  grant  and  various  transfers  in  the  possession 

of  the  family  whose  descendants  now  occupy  the  house). 

Go  west  on  the  Neck  Road,  crossing  the  bridge  over  Gerritsen's  Creek. 

7.  Gerritsen  Tide  Mill  and  Mill  Race  on  the  edge  of  the 
Whitney  place.  The  original  mill  was  built  shortly  after  1636  by 
one  of  the  Gerritsens. 

Continue  west  on  Neck  Road,  passing 
8.    Stillwell  House,  corner  of  Ryder's  Lane,  about  a  century 
old,  the  barn  b  ing  still  older.    Note  the  milestone  in  front  bear- 
ing the  inscription  "  Eight  and  (Three  Qu)arters  Miles  to  Brock- 
land  Ferry." 

See  north  on  Ryder's  Lane 
9-10.    Two  old  Ryder  Houses  on  either  side  of  the  lane. 
Six  houses  of  Dutch  architecture  stand  near  the  end  of  the  Coney 
Island  Jockey  Club  grounds. 

250 


Flatlands  Neck 


BROOKLYN 


40  Route 


Go  north  on  Ocean  Avenue,  passing 

Ti.  Bennett  House  on  King's  Highway,  built  by  the  elder  Ben- 
nett for  his  son. 

12.  Bennett  Homestead,  corner  Avenue  P  and  East  Twenty- 
second  Street,  formerly  fronting  on  King's  Highway. 

13.  Van  Nuyse-Magaw  Homestead,  1447  Ocean  Avenue,  a 
well-preserved  Dutch  farmhouse  over  a  century  old. 

Go  cast  on  Avenue  I  to  Flatbush  Avenue. 
D.    SIDE  TRIP  THROUGH   FLATLANDS  NECK 

Take  Flatlands  Neck  Road  from  Flatbush  Avenue  and  go  east,  and 
north  to  Church  Avenue,  passing 

14.  Van  Wyck  House  on  the  corner  of  Avenue  L  or  King's 
Highway.  Note  the  bull's  eyes  in  what  was  originally  the  front 
door,  now  the  rear.  Pass  on  the  left  the  Flatlands  Reformed 
Church  and  old  school  house.  (Van  JVyck  House  has  been  deinolisJicd .) 

15.  House  of  W.  H.  Kouwenhoven,  King's  Highway  near  Ave- 
nue H. 

16.  Historic  Tree,  Avenue  G  and  Neck  Road.    (Appendix  E.) 
Between  the  church  and  Church  Avenue  about  ten  houses  of  typical 

Dutch  style  may  be  seen ;  also  an  early  school  house. 

Canarsie  Lane,  just  beyond  the  school  house,  leads  to  old  Canarsie 
Village  (Section  iV). 

Take  Church  Avenue  car  hack  to  Flatbush. 

See  additional  notes  on  Flatlands,  p.  263. 


251 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Plate  LI.    Route  41.  C.  K. 


252 


BROOKLYN 


ROUTE  41. 

SECTION   IV.— NEW   LOTS,    EAST   NEW   YORK  AND 
CANARSIE 

(Figures  refer  to  Plate  LI). 

New  Lots  had  its  beginning  when  the  farmers  of  Old  Lots  in  Flatbush,  feel- 
ing crowded,  came  here  and  settled  in  1670.     The  town  was  organized  in  1852. 

East  New  York,  so  named  from  its  location,  was  founded  by  John  R.  Pitkin, 
a  merchant  from  Connecticut,  in  1835. 

Take  Fulton  Street  {City  Line)  train  to  Cleveland  Street  Station. 
Go  north  one  block  to  Jamaica  Avenue,  then  to  the  ri^ht  one  block  to 

(A)  Snedeker  House,  opposite  the  head  of  Elton  Street. 
The  house  belongs  to  the  city.  See  the  beautiful  mantel  in  the 
front  room.*7 

Go  tzvo  blocks  west  on  Jamaica  Avenue 

(B)  Schenck  House,  built  in  1705.  *8 

Take  Street  car  or  ''L"  road  to  Crescent  Avenue  and  go  south  to 
Old  Mill  Villa f^e  (sta^e  10  cents),  passing  on  the  left  the 

1.  Peck  House,  near  P.  S.  159,  at  Pitkin  and  Lincoln  Avenues. 

2.  Old  Mill,  -.^ow  called  Van  Wicklen  ]\Iill,  on  the  left,  ap- 
proaching the  quaint  little  village  which  is  situated  on  both  sides 
of  Old  Mill  Creek,  formerly  called  Bull  Creek.  The  mill  was 
built  in  1770  by  Van  Brunt.  The  village  usually  has  in  September 
a  Mardi  Gras  festival  which  is  worth  seeing. 

The  old  mill  wheel  is  silent,  with  moss  now  long  grown  o'er. 

The   creaking  gate   'neath   the   rustic   bridge   shall   stem   the  tide   no  more, 

The  miller,  too,  has  passed  away,  no  more  the  wheat  and  corn 

Shall  grind  to  the  chug  of  the  old  mill  wheel  by  the  waters  that  have  gone. 

— From  a   Festival  Program. 

Go  back  from  Old  M'lU  VTtluge  to  New  Lots  road  and  zvalk  zuest  to 

3.  Van  Brunt  House,  corner  Shepherd  Avenue,  of  Dutch  archi- 
tecture, with  hip  roof;  one  of  the  oldest  houses  in  this  section. 

4.  New  Lots  Dutch  Reformed  Church,  built  in  1824,  but  organ- 
ized many  years  earlier  as  an  offshoot  of  the  Flatbush  Church, 
the  congregation  meeting  in  the  old  schoolhouse  (6).  The 
farmers,  feeling  that  the  distance  to  the  Flatbush  Church  was  too 
great,  obtained  permission  to  erect  a  building  of  their  own;  not 
having  much  ready  money,  the  men  went  into  the  woods,  cut 


Route  41 


HISTORICAL   GUIDE  New  Lots 


and  hauled  the  timber  to  the  mill,  made  and  fitted  the  frame  and 
then  had  the  "raising'';  in  fact,  they  did  everything  but  the 
plaster  work. 

5.  Churchyard  on  the  side  of  P.  S.  72,  which  stands  on  the 
site  of  the  original  school.  Among  the  families  buried  here  are 
the  Van  Dykes,  Elberts,  Snede(i)kers,  Ryders,  and  Emanses. 
Several  stones  bear  the  date  1796. 

6.  Old  New  Lots  School,  just  north  on  Barbey  Street,  between 
Livonia  and  Dumont  Avenues,  over  a  century  old  and  now  used  as 
a  dwelling.  It  was  moved  to  this  site  when  the  new  school  was 
built.  The  lower  part  was  used  by  the  teacher  for  his  home  and 
the  upper  part  as  a  school  and  church.    Near  by  is  the 

7.  Duryea  House,  at  562  Jerome  Street,  well  preserved. 

Continue  west  on  New  Lots  Road. 

8.  Van  Sicklen  House,  corner  Van  Sicklen  Avenue,  built  about 
1730. 

9.  Rapalye  House,  349  New  Lots  Road,  built  about  1730  and  in 
very  good  condition.  See  the  twin  doors  in  the  back,  a  character- 
istic of  the  period. 

Ethan  Allen,  who  had  been  captured  in  Canada,  was  billetted 
here  under  parole  as  a  prisoner  of  war.  Elated  at  the  victory 
of  the  Americans  at  the  Battle  of  Bennington,  he  gave  expression 
to  his  feelings  at  Howard's  Half  Way  House;  this  was  too  much 
for  his  captors  and  he  was  immediately  arrested  and  confined  in 
the  Provost  Prison  in  New  York,  where  he  was  afterwards 
exchanged. 

10.  Lott  House,  at  321  New  Lots  Road,  about  a  century  old.*9 

11.  Snedeker  House,  corner  of  Snedeker  Avenue,  built  about 
1750. 

The  Van  Sinderen  House,  near  Junius  Street,  has  lately  been  de- 
molished. 

Take  Canarsie  train  from  New  Lots  station  to  Canarsie  Beach. 

12.  Vanderveer  Mill  site  at  Flatlands  Avenue  and  East  One-hundred  and 
Seventh  Street.  (Leave  train  at  Flatlands  Avenue  and  East  One-hundred  and 
Fifth  Street  and  walk  to  East  One-hundred  and  Seventh  Street), 

This  mill  was  in  use  up  to  the  Civil   War.     Only  ruins  remain  (built  1672). 
The  Vanderveer  House  was  built  about  1820. 

Continue  on  the  train  to  Canarsie  Park,  passing 

13.  Schenck  House  in  Canarsie  Park,  built  about  i77o.*ip 
Walk  north  on  the  old  Canarsie  Lane  to  Remsen  Place, 

254 


E.  New  York 


BROOKLYN 


41  Route 


14.  Wyckoff  House,  built  1664  of  material  brought  from  Hol- 
land. The  land  was  purchased  from  the  Canarsie  Indians  in  1630 
and  has  been  in  the  family  since  that  date.  *ii 

Take  the  train  hack  to  East  New  York  Station;  walk  east  three  or  four 
blocks  on  Atlantic  Avenue.   At  the  corner  of  Alabama  Avenue  is 

15.  The  Howard  House,  occupying  the  site  of  Howard's  Half 
Way  House.  It  was  from  this  house  that  Howe  impressed  inn- 
keeper Howard  and  his  son  as  guides  to  Flatbush  at  the  Battle 
of  Long  Island.  Here  Ethan  Allen  was  arrested  (9);  this  was 
also  the  scene  of  draft  riots  during  the  Civil  War  when  a  num- 
ber of  men  were  killed;  see  the  painting  (within  the  hotel)  illus- 
trating this  event.    The  building  has  been  much  altered. 

Take  Broadway    L"  road  to  Palmetto  Street  Station.    Two  blocks 
north,  at  the  corner  of  Evergreen  and  Woodbine  Avenues,  is 

16.  Suydam  House  site,  now  occupied  by  the  Second  German 
Baptist  Church.  The  house  was  built  in  1724  and  was  occupied 
by  the  Hessians  during  the  Revolution. 


25s 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


JO  7H.9T. 


 II 


DJA&/ZAM 


JLJL 


•an 


NEW  UTRECHT 
iection  6  £)fcunsie»  V" 


Plate  LII.    Routes  42,  43. 


C.  K. 


256 


BROOKLYN 


SECTION  v.— FORT  HAMILTON,  NEW  UTRECHT  AND 
GRAVESEND 

(Figures  refer  to  Plates  LII  and  LIII). 
ROUTE  42. 

A.    BROOKLYN   BRIDGE   TO    FORT  HAMILTON 

Take  Fifth  Avenue  Elevated  Railroad. 
After  leaving  St.  Mark's  Avenue  Station,  see  on  the  right  the 
old  Gowanus  Canal. 

Leave  the  train  at  Third  Street. 
See  on  a  building  near  the  foot  of  the  station  stairs 

1.  Tablet  erected  by  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution  to  commemo- 
rate and  giving  a  representation  of  the  Vechte-Cortclyou  House,  built 
1699  b}^  Claes  Adrientie  van  Vechten  and  later  occupied  by 
Jacques  Cortelyou.  *I2 

Here  Lord  Stirling  made  his  famous  defence  during  the  Battle 
of  Long  Island.  This  house  and  others  nearly  as  famous,  including 
the  Bennett-Schermerhorn  House  at  Third  Avenue,  near  Twenty-sixth 
Street  (erected  in  the  Seventeenth  Century  on  the  site  of  the  original 
house  built  by  Bennett,  the  pioneer  of  "The  Gowanus"),  and  the  De- 
Hart-Bergen  House  at  Third  Avenue,  near  Thirty-seventh  Street, 
(erected  before  1679  by  Simon  Aertsen  and  described  in  the  Lahadist 
Journal)  have  only  recently  disappeared.  This  was  the  site  of  the 
original  Gowanus  Creek,  where  was  the  old  Freehs  Mill  (sometimes 
called  Brower's  Mill),  burned  in  1776  on  the  retreat  of  the  Ameri- 
cans. It  was  built  in  1661  and  was  the  oldest  tide  mill  in  Brooklyn. 
Near  by  was  Denton's  Mill.  After  passing  the  Twentieth  Street 
Station,  see  on  the  left 

2.  Greenwood  Cemetery,  opened  in  1842,  covers  portions  of 
the  Bennett,  Wyckoff  and  Bergen  farms.  It  contains  474  acres 
and  the  number  of  interments  up  to  1907  was  about  340,000.  At 
the  north  entrance  (where  carriages  may  be  hired,  25  cents),  see 
the  sculptures  of  sacred  character.  The  most  conspicuous  monu- 
ments are  the  Soldiers'  Monument  on  Battle  Hill,  the  Firemen's 
Monument,  the  Canda  Memorial,  the  Mackay  Mausoleum  and 
statues  or  monuments  for  Roger  Williams,  DeWitt  Clinton, 
Henry  Ward  Beecher,  Horace  Greeley,  Samuel  F.  B,  Morse,  the 
Brown  Brothers  and  Henry  Bergh.  *i3 

257  , 


Route  42 


HISTORICAL    GUIDE  Ft.  Hamilton 


After  turning  into  Third  Avenue  at  Thirty-eighth  Street,  see 
on  the  right 

3.  Old  hip-roofed  house  near  Gowanus  Bay.*i4 

At  Sixty-Hfth  Street  change  cars  for  Fort  Hamilton. 

4.  The  military  works  at  Fort  Hamilton  were  begun  in  1808 
by  Mayor  DeWitt  Clinton  and  the  present  fort  was  constructed 
1825-31.  It  is  a  stone  case-mated  structure  commanding  the 
"  Narrows."  The  military  reservation  contains  96  acres.  General 
Robert  E.  Lee  and  Stonewall "  Jackson  were  stationed  here 
previous  to  the  Civil  War.  The  fort  covers  the  site  of  the  old 
Simon  Cortelyou  House,  built  in  1699,  and  purchased  by  the 
U.  S.  Government  in  1892.  General  Howe  used  the  house  as  his 
headquarters  in  1776.  Cortelyou  was  a  Tory  and,  on  account  of 
his  ill-treatment  of  American  prisoners,  suffered  imprisonment. 
After  his  death  the  house  became  a  tavern.  Nearby  was  Denyse's 
Ferry,  where  the  British  landed  August  22,  1776. 

N.  B. — ^Write  in  advance  to  the  Commandant  for  a  permit. 

5.  Fort  Lafayette  originated  as  "  Fort  Diamond  on  Diamond 
Reef  during  the  War  of  1812,  and  its  name  was  changed  about 
1825  to  honor  the  French  hero  who  was  then  visiting  New  York. 
During  the  Civil  War  it  was  used  as  a  military  prison.  The  inte- 
rior was  burned  in  1868  and  it  has  since  been  used  for  the  storage 
of  ordnance,  etc. 

Here,  at  The  Narrows,  Verrazano  first  saw  New  York  Harbor 
and  Hudson's  men  landed  just  below  on  Coney  Island  to  bury 
the  body  of  John  Coleman,  who  had  been  killed  by  the  Indians. 
(But  see  Excursion  X:io). 


258 


BROOKLYN 


ROUTE  43. 

B.      NEW  UTRECHT 

The  land  on  which  the  village  of  New  Utrecht  now  stands  was  purchased 
from  the  Indians  in  1652  for  6  shirts,  2  pairs  of  shoes,  6  pairs  of  stockings,  6 
adzes,  6  knives,  2  pairs  of  scissors  and  6  combs,  and  settled  shortly  after.  In 
1661  the  town  received  a  charter;  in  1663  it  was  raided  by  some  English  froni. 
the  east  end  of  Long  Island,  who  claimed  this  section  also;  in  1753  a  ferry 
was  established  across  the  "Narrows  "  to  Staten  Island;  in  1755  there  were 
slaves  in  the  town.  *'  The  town  has  been  purchased  three  times  from  the  In- 
dians; has  received  six  different  government  patents  and  has  undergone  four 
different  changes  of  government  administration." 

From  Fort  Hamilton  take  Fifth  Avenue  trolley  and  transfer  at  Eighty- 
sixth  Street  to  ear  going  east.    Get  off  at  Sixteenth  Avenue 
and  walk  north  to  Eighty-fourth  Street. 

6.  Dutch  Churchyard,  in  which  stands  St.  John's  Lutheran 
Church  (entrance  on  Eighty-fifth  Street).  See  many  quaint  old 
tombstones.  The  original  Dutch  Reformed  Church  of  New 
Utrecht  formerly  stood  in  this  yard.  It  was  an  octagonal-shaped 
building  with  a  tall  spire.  During  the  Revolution  the  British 
used  it  as  a  hospital  and  as  a  riding  school.  Adjoining  the  old 
church  stood  the  DeSille  (later  Van  Brunt)  House  m  which 
General  Woodhull  died.  It  was  built  in  1657  and  torn  down  in 
1850.    DeSille  was  a  court  officer  tmder  Stuyvesant. 

7.  Nostrand  House,  with  stone  wing,  corner  of  Eighty-fourth 
Street  and  Sixteenth  Avenue.  The  house  was  bought  from  John 
Lott,  who  obtained  it  from  Barrie,  who  kept  a  tavern  here  dur- 
ing the  Revolution.  When  Washington  was  President,  he  was 
entertained  in  this  tavern  while  on  a  tour  of  inspection. 

8.  Voorhees  House,  1531  Eighty-fourth  Street,  w^est  of  (7),  an 
old  Dutch  stone  house  covered  with  stucco.  (7)  and  (8)  will 
soon  be  destroyed  to  make  way  for  street  improvements. 

9.  Van  Brunt  House,  1752  Eighty-fourth  Street,  built  about 
1660  and  used  as  quarters  for  British  officers  during  the  Revolu- 
tion. The  stone  kitchen  is  the  oldest  portion  of  the  building. 
It  is  said  that  the  hickory  trees  in  the  rear  are  over  a  century 
old,  the  seeds  having  been  brought  from  Maryland. 

TO.  New  Utrecht  Dutch  Reformed  Church,  opposite  the  east 
end  of  Eighty-fourth  Street,  erected  in  1828  at  this  point  to  settle 
a  controversy.  It  was  organized  in  1677  and  occupied  the  site 
of  the  St.  John's  Lutheran  Church  (6)  from  1700  to  1828. 


259 


Route  43 


HISTORICAL    GUIDE  New  Utrecht 


The  old  New  Utrecht  school  house  occupied  this  site  and  was  torn 
down  to  make  way  for  the  present  church  structure.  When  the  news 
of  Washington's  visit  (see  7)  was  made  known,  the  teacher  Hned  up 
the  pupils  in  front  of  the  school  and  Washington,  dismounting,  shook 
hands  with  every  child.  Among  them  was  Peter  Van  Pelt,  who  be- 
came the  well-known  Dutch  Reformed  clergyman  of  Staten  Island. 

11.  Liberty  Pole  in  front  of  the  church,  the  third  pole  on  this 
site,  the  first  having  been  erected  in  1783,  the  second  in  1834  and 
the  present  one  in  1867.  See  two  tablets  on  the  pole.  In  Octo- 
ber, 1908,  a  society  composed  of  the  descendants  of  the  patriots 
who  erected  the  first  pole  was  incorporated  under  the  laws  of 
the  State  of  New  York.  *i5 

Go  north  on  Eighteenth  Avenue  to  Eighty-first  Street, 

12.  Van  Pelt  Manor  House.  The  ancestors  of  the  Van  Pelt 
family  came  to  America  in  1663,  one  brother  settling  in  New 
Utrecht,  and  it  is  claimed  that  he  erected  this  house  in  1664. 
The  land  was  purchased  in  1694  by  Aert  Tunise  (Van  Pelt)  from 
Hendrick  Mathyse  Smack.  British  officers  were  quartered  here  dur- 
ing the  Revolution. 

The  milestone  in  front  of  the  house  dates  from  1741  and  is  the 
private  property  of  the  Van  Pelt  family.  *i6 

Go  south  on  Nineteenth  Avenue  to  Eighty-sixth  Street,  walk  east  to 

13.  Van  Pelt  House,  between  Bay  Twenty-third  and  Bay 
Twenty-fourth  Streets,  built  1812. 

Go  south  on  Bay  Twenty-fourth  Street  to  Benson  Avenue. 

14.  Benson  House,  originally  a  Couwenhoven  House. 


260 


BROOKLYN 


ROUTE  43a. 

C.    GRAVESEND   AND  CONEY  ISLAND 

In  1643  Lady  Moody,  an  Englishwoman,  fixed  upon  this  spot  as  a  place  where 
she  and  others  could  exercise  that  liberty  of  conscience  denied  to  ner  by  her 
own  people.  She  was  a  woman  of  force,  education  and  refinement  and  it  was 
not  long  before  she  became  a  power  in  the  community.  The  town  of  Gravesend 
was  originally  laid  out  in  a  square^  and  two  cross  roads  divided  this  into  four 
equal  squares  which  were  cut  up  into  40  lots  for  as  many  settlers;  curiously, 
only  39  parts  are  ever  mentioned.  The  town  soon  grew  beyond  these  limits 
but  never  attained  to  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  its  neighbors. 

Coney  Island  was  part  of  the  above  grant.  It  belonged  to  the  Canarsie 
Indians  and  was  called  by  them  **  Narrioch  "  and  by  the  Dutc^i  **  Conynge 
Hook."  It  was  granted  by  Governor  Kieft  to  Guyspert  Op  Dyck  and  later 
was  held  by  DeWolf  until  Governor  Nicolls  gave  it  in  1668  to  the  town  of 
Gravesend.  In  1685  it  was  divided  into  40  lots  which  were  held  by  various 
families  until  1734,  when  Thomas  Stilwell  obtained  the  whole  island.  In  1829 
was  erected  the  Coney  Island  House,  the  first  hotel  on  the  Island.  Modern 
Coney  Island  began  in  1844  when  a  **  Pavilion  "  was  erected.  Since  that 
time  the  place  has  grown  steadily  as  an  amusement  center.  Coney  Island  Creek 
has  been  partly  filled  in,  so  the  place  is  no  longer  an  island. 


G/tAVES£A/D: 


Plate  LIIL    Route  43a.  C.  K, 


261 


Route  43a  HISTORICAL    GUIDE  Gravesend 

From  Coney  Island  take  Reid  Avenue  car  to  Gravesend,  getting  off  at 
Neck  Road,  walk  west  on  Neck  Road,  passing 

15.  Hicks-Platt  House,  a  well-preserved  Dutch  stone  house 
covered  v^ith  stucco.  It  is  claimed  that  this  house  was  on  the 
Bouwerie  of  Lady  Moody  and  built  in  1643;  that  Stuyvesant  and 
Kieft  were  entertained  here  and  that  it  was  used  as  a  hospital 
during  the  Revolution.  *i7 

16.  Bergen  House,  near  the  corner  of  Van  Sicklen  Street. 

Turn  south  on  Van  Sicklen  Street  to 

17.  Lake  House,  in  a  good  state  of  preservation,  built  about  1800. 
It  is  on  the  site  of  the  houses  of  the  first  Lakes  in  Gravesend. 
Return  to  Neck  Road,  walk  east  and  on  the  south  side  near  the  M.  E. 

Church  see 

18.  Old  Gravesend  Town  Cemetery. 

Continue  east,  crossing  the  railroad  track  to  Village  Road;  turn  south 

to 

19.  Williamson  House,  well-preserved. 

Return  to  Neck  Road. 

20.  Stilwell  House,  95  Neck  Road,  corner  Village  Road. 

21.  Emans  House,  further  to  the  east,  on  the  south  side  of 
the  road. 

22.  Lake  House,  between  East  Fourth  Street  and  the  Boule- 
vard. 

Continue  on  Neck  Road,  crossing  the  Boulevard  or  Ocean  Parkway, 

23.  Old  Dutch  House. 

24.  Voorhees-Sheppard  House,  opposite  Homecrest  Avenue, 
built  in  1730. 

25.  Van  Cleef  House,  corner  East  Sixteenth  Street  and  Neck 
Road. 

Return  by  Brighton  Beach  Elevated  Road. 


Z6z 


BROOKLYN 


ADDITIONAL  NOTES  ON  FLATLANDS 
By  Frederick  Van  Wyck. 

The  first  deed  of  land  on  Long  Island  was  made  to  Andries  Hudde 
(Hudden)  and  Wolphert  Gerretsen  Van  Kouwenhoven  on  June  i6, 
1636,  and  comprised  the  land  from  Flatbush  to  the  ocean  and 
Gravesend  to  Paardegat  Outlet,  excepting  Bergen's  Island  (Ber- 
gen Beach).  The  latter  was  granted  to  Captain  John  Underhill 
in  1646  for  aid  in  fighting  Indians. 

Hudde  never  resided  at  Nieuw  Amersfoort,  but  Van  Kouwenhoven 
made  there  in  1636  the  earliest  settlement  by  Europeans  on  Long 
Island,  his  plantation,  Achterveldt  (after  or  across  the  Plain)  con- 
sisting of  3600  acres  within  the  triangle  bounded  by  the  old  road  from 
Flatbush  to  Flatlands  on  the  west,  the  road  from  Flatlands  to 
Flatlands  Neck  and  New  Lots  on  the  southeast,  and  the  old  con- 
necting road  (Hubbard's  Lane)  on  the  northeast.  This  became 
later  the  Village  of  Flatlands,  the  Dutch  church  being  located  at 
the  head  of  a  small  stream  leading  to  Jamaica  Bay.  The  site  of 
the  church  was  the  seat  of  Indian  religious  rites  and  an  Indian 
burial  place.    Indian  remains  are  still  found  here. 

Adjoining  the  Indian  burial  plot  is  the  public  school  plot,  a  deed 
from  the  Van  Kouwenhovens'  successors  showing  it  to  have  been 
used  for  school  purposes  in  1695,  making  it  probably  the  oldest  public 
school  property  in  New  York. 

The  houses  of  Wm.  H.  Kouwenhoven  on  the  east  side  of  Flat- 
lands  Neck  Road  near  Avenue  H,  and  of  the  late  George  Kouwen- 
hoven, near  the  bridge  over  the  Paardegat  Outlet  and  Avenue  G, 
are  on  land  which  has  never  been  out  of  the  possession  of  the  family  and 
are  on  land  included  in  the  original  grant.  (Second  house  burned  1910  ) 

The  white  oak  tree  on  Avenue  G,  west  of  Neck  Road  (called 
Amusketahole  by  the  Indians),  stands  on  the  southeast  corner  of 
the  former  town  of  Flatbush  and  was  marked  on  October  17,  1666,  by 
arbitrators  appointed  by  Governor  Nicolls  to  settle  a  boundary  line 
dispute  between  Flatbush  and  Flatlands.  It  is  mentioned  in  the 
patent  dated  March  11,  1685,  by  Governor  Dongan  to  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Flatlands. 


263 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


ADDENDA,  1912 

*i  (p.  241).  The  ''Guide  to  the  Windows,"  to  be  obtained  within, 
describes  the  28  windows  which  set  forth  the  influence  of  Puritanism 
upon  the  liberties  of  the  RepubHc.  In  one  of  the  church  parlors  may  be 
seen  the  four  flags  presented  by  Beecher,  May  21,  1861,  to  the  Beecher 
Regiment  (the  67th  N.  Y.  Volunteers)  and  returned  to  the  church, 
May  21,  1910,  by  the  survivors;  also  the  original  bill  of  sale  of  the  slave 
and  a  painting  of  Beecher  Selling  the  Slave.  Read  ''Life  of  Beecher" 
by  his  son,  and  "Reminiscences  of  Plymouth  Church,"  by  S.  M. 
Griswold. 

The  "Beecher  Memorial,"  an  institutional  building,  is  to  be  erected 
in  1912-13  west  of  Plymouth  Church  by  members  of  the  Arbuckle  family. 
The  arcade  will  bear  bas-reliefs  commemorating  the  anti-slavery 
struggle ;  a  bronze  statue  by  Borglum  will  be  placed  in  the  little  park  in 
front,  representing  Beecher  selling  the  slave. 

*2  (p.  242).  See  within  the  rotunda  of  Borough  Hall  portraits  of 
former  Mayors  of  Brooklyn ;  in  the  Court  House  are  portraits  of 
Supreme  Court  justices,  etc. 

The  First  Reformed  Chiireh  stood  originally  (1666-1807)  on  the  site 
of  the  department  store  of  Abraham  &  Straus,  but  was  removed  in 
1807  to  Joralemon  Street,  near  Borough  Hall,  and  in  1835  it  occupied 
the  site  of  Murphy  Park,  in  the  rear  of  the  Hall. 

The  Old  Mansion  House,  a  well-known  hostelry,  stands  on  Hicks 
Street,  between   Clark  and  Pierrepont  Streets. 

*,3  (p.  244).  The  U.  S.  Naval  Museum,  founded  by  naval  officers 
in  1833,  has  a  library  and  collection  of  historic  relics.  The  old 
War  of  '12  frigate  Vermont  at  the  Cob  Dock  is  used  as  a  receiving 
ship,  recruiting  station  and  house  for  recruits  and  sailors  awaiting 
assignment  to  service. 

*4  (p.  249).  Inside  the  church  is  a  tablet  erected  1910  by  the 
Colonial  Daughters  of  the  Seventeenth  Century  to  commemorate  the 
original  building  erected  in  1663. 

*5  (p.  249).  The  Schenck  House  was  built  in  1656  by  Captain  John 
Schenck  on  Mill  Island.  It  is  probably  the  oldest  house  in  New  York 
City  still  standing  as  originally  erected. 

*6  (p.  249).  The  Bergen  House  was  built  shortly  after  (2),  but  has 
been  much  altered. 

*7  (p-  253).  The  Snedeker  House  is  gone,  but  another  old  house, 
recently  remodeled,  stands  near  its  site. 

264 


BROOKLYN 


The  National  Cemetery,  a  short  distance  east,  contains  many  graves 
of  Union  soldiers  and  some  Civil  War  cannon. 

An  extensive  view  may  be  had  from  the  top  of  the  hill,  near  the 
reservoir.    Remains  of  an  old  mill  lie  in  the  pond  just  east. 

*8  (p.  253).  The  Schenck  House  is  used  as  a  tool  house  for  the 
new  Highland  Park. 

*9  (P-  254).  This  is  also  called  the  Henry  Rapelye  House,  and  is 
said  to  have  been  built  about  1672. 

*io  (p.  254).  Parts  of  an  older  house  are  incorporated  in  the  Schenck 
House. 

*ii  (p.  255).  To  reach  the  Wyckoff  House  take  a  Reid  Avenue  car 
to  Utica  and  Church  Avenues ;  walk  south  on  Utica  six  blocks  to 
Canarsie  Lane,  then  east  four  blocks,  past  Kouwenhoven  Place.  The 
house  is  one  block  west  of  the  Manhattan  Beach  R.  R.  Opposite  it  are 
the  remains  of  another  Dutch  house,  once  used  as  a  barn  by  the 
Suydams. 

*I2  (p.  257).  The  Vechte-Cortelyou  House  remains  on  the  old  site, 
but  it  is  completely  buried  on  account  of  filling  in  the  hollow  here.  It 
has  been  proposed  to  unearth  it  and  set  it  up  in  a  near-by  park  (read 
"The  Stone  House  at  Gowanus"). 

At  Third  Avenue  and  Seventh  Street  see  the  .slab  in  the  sidewalk 
with  the  following  inscription:  "Burial  place  of  ye  250  Maryland 
soldiers  who  fell  in  ye  combat  at  ye  Cortelyou  House  in  ye  Battle  of 
Long  Island  on  ye  27th  day  of  August,  1776."  Graves  were  visible 
here  in  1900,  before  the  land  was  filled  to  level  the  ground. 

*I3  (p.  257).  See  also  the  Pilots'  Monument,  given  by  N.  Y.  Harbor 
pilots;  Sea  Captains'  Monument  to  Capt.  John  Correja ;  Fire  Monu- 
ment to  victims  of  the  Brooklyn  Theatre  fire  of  December,  1876. 

*I4  (p.  258).    At  Thirty-ninth  Street  and  Church  Avenue,  near  the 
east  end  of  the  cemetery,  are  two  old  houses  of  Dutch  architecture. 

*i5  (p.  260).  The  fourth  liberty  pole  was  erected  in  August,  1910, 
through  the  generosity  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Towns  and  Cortelyou  Van  Pelt. 

*i6  (p.  260).    The  milestone  and  a  small  plot  of  land  around  it  have/ 
been  presented  to  the  city,  and  the  City  History  Club  plan  to  mark 
the  stone  with  a  tablet. 

*I7  (p.  262).  C.  A.  Ditmas  says  Lady  Moody  never  owned  this 
house,  her  property  being  at  the  other  side  of  the  town  square.  The 
land  was  owned  by  Ralph  Cardell  (?),  who  later  purchased  Lady 
Moody's  home,  hence  the  error.  The  house  has  been  completely  altered, 
but  contains  portions  of  the  original  structure. 


265 


NOTES 


s66 


267 


NOTES 


PART  FOUR 

BOROUGH  OF  QUEENS. 


EXCURSION  NO.  XI.— HISTORIC  QUEENS. 
By  Frank  Bergen  Kelley 
Compiled  from  an  Unpublished  Manuscript  Entitled 
ANCIENT  LANDMARKS  OF  QUEENS  BOROUGH  " 
By  J.  H.  Innes 

Author  of  "  New  Amsterdam  and  Its  People,"  "  The  Old  Bark  Mill, 
or  First  Place  of  Religious  Worship  in  New  York,"  etc. 

Copyright,    1908,   by   the   City   History   Club   of   New  York. 

Revised  1912,  with  the  Aid  of  Robert  E.  Parsons  and  other  Members 
OF  the  Flushing  Historical  Society. 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


QUEENS 


Bibliography 

History  of  Long  Island,"  (2  vols.)  by  B.  F.  Thompson,  gives 
general  information  in  regard  to  the  various  towns. 

History  of  Long  Island,"  by  Nathaniel  S.  Prime,  includes  many 
interesting  particulars  as  to  church  matters. 

"  Antiquities  of  Long  Island,"  by  Gabriel  Furman. 

"  Queens  County  in  Olden  Times,"  by  Henry  Onderdonck. 

"  History  of  Queens  County,"  by  Munsell. 

"Annals  of  Newtown,"  by  James  Riker,  Jr.  (scarce). 

Newspaper  articles  on  Queens,  written,  1880-90,  by  Wm.  O'Gor- 
man,  Town  Clerk  of  Newtown,  and  articles  on  Ancient  Newtown — 
formerly  Middelburgh,"  1898,  by  J.  H.  Innes  (may  be  found  in  the 
N.  Y.  Historical  Society  Library). 

"  New  Amsterdam  and  It^  People,"  by  J.  H.  Innes. 

"History  of  the  Town  of  Flushing,"  by  H.  D.  Waller. 

"  Travels  in  America,"  by  John  Davis. 

"Journal  of  a  Tour  in  New  York,"  (pp.  25-36)  by  John  Fowler. 

"  Historical  Long  Island,"  by  R.  R.  Wilson. 

"Early  Life  in  Long  Island,"  by  M.  B.  Flint. 

N.  B. — The  City  History  club  is  greatly  indebted  to  Mr.  J.  H.  Innes, 
through  whose  scholarship,  unwearied  energy  and  courtesy  this  EX- 
CURSION has  been  made  possible. 

Thanks  are  also  due  for  research  and  the  preparation  of  copy 
and  charts  for  the  press  to  teachers  and  students  of  the  Bryant, 
Jamaica  and  DeWitt  Clinton  High  Schools,  and  to  many  residents  of 
Flushing,  Newtown  and  Jamaica. 

Additional  Bibliography 

"  Long  Island  Historic  Houses,"  by  Henry  L  Whittemore. 
"  The  Quaker  Cross:  A  Story  of  the  Old  Bowne  House,"  by  Cornelia 
Mitchell  Parsons. 


273 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


HISTORICAL  SKETCH  OF  QUEENS 

The  Borough  of  Queens  of  the  City  of  New  York  was  formed  on 
January  i,  1898,  from  the  former  townships  of  Newtown,  Flushing 
and  Jamaica,  together  with  Long  Island  City  and  a  small  portion  of 
the  town  of  Hempstead,  embracing  the  Far  Rockaway  and  Rockaway 
Beach  district  of  that  town.  This  territory,  forming  the  western 
portion  of  the  old  County  of  Queens,  was  reorganized  at  the  time 
mentioned  and  became  the  County  of  Queens,  while  the  eastern  por- 
tion of  the  former  county  received  a  new  organization  and  became 
known  as  the  County  of  Nassau. 

The  first  settlements  in  this  territory  were  made  by  individual 
Dutch  farmers  from  1637  to  1656,  under  grants  from  the  Director- 
General  and  Council  at  New  Amsterdam,  in  what  may  be  described 
in  a  general  way  as  the  districts  forming  the  present  Long  Island 
City.  They  were  under  the  direct  supervision  of  New  Amsterdam 
authorities  and  were  known  as  the  Out  Plantations.  The  remain- 
der of  the  present  borough  was  settled  entirely  by  colonists  from 
various  parts  of  New  England  under  grants  from  the  Dutch  authori- 
ties at  New  Amsterdam.  They  received  township  governments,  but 
modelled  after  the  Dutch  form,  and  their  villages  received  Dutch 
appellations.  There  were,  however,  originally  no  Dutch  settler^ 
among  them  except  in  one  or  two  isolated  cases.  In  course  of  time 
many  Dutch  bought  lands  among  them.  These  settlements  were  made 
as  follows :  In  the  spring  of  1642  a  patent  was  issued  to  Rev. 
Francis  Doughty  (for  himself  and  a  party  of  associates)  of  the 
remainder  of  the  land  included  in  the  former  town  of  Newtown.  Un- 
der this  patent  a  settlement  was  begun,  principally  along  the  Mespat 
Kill,  afterwards  known  as  Newtown  Creek,  but  it  was  destroyed  in 
the  Indian  war  of  1643.  In  1644  Heemstede  (Hempstead)  was  settled 
by  a  company  from  Watertown,  Wethersfield  and  Stamford  in  New 
England.  In  1645-6  Vlissingen  (Flushing)  was  settled,  and  in  1652 
Middelburg  (Newtown),  in  the  old  Doughty  patent, — in  both  cases 
by  colonists  from  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut,  while  in  1656  Rust- 
dorp  (Jamaicr)  was  settled  by  a  party  from  Hempstead  and  Flush- 
ing. The  above  were  the  only  settlements  in  the  territory  of  the  bor- 
ough for  a  long  period,  except  that  in  1656,  after  the  second  Indian 
war,  the  inhabitants  along  the  Mespat  Kill  were  for  a  short  time  gath- 
ered for  security  into  a  village  called  Arnhem,  on  what  was  known 
as  Smith's  Island  in  the  Mespat  Kill;  this  village  was  abandoned 
in  1662. 


274 


QUEENS 


The  history  of  Hempstead  and  Jamaica  was  uneventful  during  the 
Dutch  rule,  but  in  Flushing  and  in  IMiddelburg  there  was  consider- 
able dissatisfaction,  the  people  of  the  latter  place  going  so  far  as  to 
attempt  to  put  themselves  under  the  jurisdiction  of  Connecticut  and 
to  alter  the  name  of  their  town  to  Hastings  in  1663.  After  the 
surrender  to  the  English  in  1664,  these  towns  were  organized  for  the 
purposes  of  civil  administration  into  what  was  known  as  the  IVest 
Riding  of  Yorkshire  (in  analogy  to  the  civil  divisions  bearing  the 
same  name  in  Yorkshire,  England),  with  a  Sessions  House  for  judi- 
cial and  administrative  business  at  Jamaica.  The  names  of  the 
towns  were  now  changed,  but  Hcemstcdc  being  so  similar  in  form 
to  the  English  town  of  Hempstead,  and  Vlissingcn  being  so  well 
knov^^n  to  the  English  under  the  name  of  Flushing,  these  forms  were 
retained,  while  Rustdorp  reverted  to  its  Indian  name  of  Jamaica,  and 
Middelburg  received  the  name  of  Newtown,  together  with  a  patent 
in  1667  by  which  the  former  Out  Plantations  were  added  to  it.  In 
1683  these  towns,  together  with  the  eastern  town  of  Oyster  Bay, 
were  united  to  form  the  County  of  Queens  with  its  court  house  and 
other  county  buildings  at  Jamaica.  This  organization  remained  un- 
disturbed until  after  the  Revolution.  In  1814  Jamaica,  then  with  a 
population  of  1500,  became  an  incorporated  village,  as  did  Flushing 
in  1837,  with  a  population  of  about  2000.  Soon  after  the  introduction 
of  steam  navigation,  and  as  early  as  181 1,  Astoria  began  to  attract  • 
attention  as  a  place  pf  suburban  residence  and  in  1839  it  was  incorpo- 
rated as  ^  village.  About  1853-4  Whitestone  (formerly  a  mere  ham- 
let) began  to  grow  from  the  establishment  there  of  a  factory  of 
tinned  and  japanned  ware,  while  College  Point  owed  its  growth  as 
a  village  at  about  the  same  time  to  the  setting  up  of  a  factory  of  hard 
rubber  ware,  though  it  was  not  incorporated  until  1880. 

In  1836  the  Brooklyn  and  Jamaica  Railroad  was  opened,  its  first 
time-table  taking  effect  on  April  26  of  that  year.  On  March  i,  1837, 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Long  Island  Railroad,  it  was  opened  through 
Queens  County  to  Hicksville,  and  to  its  terminus  in  Greenport  in 
1844.  The  New  York  and  Flushing  Railroad  was  opened  June  26,  ^ 
1854,  its  East  River  terminus  being  a  dock  at  Hunter's  Point  near  the 
mouth  of  Newtown  Creek,  from  which  it  connected  a  few  times  daily 
with  one  of  the  Harlem  boats  for  the  lower  part  of  New  York.  In 
1861  the  terminus  of  the  Long  Island  Railroad  was  changed  from 
Brooklyn  to  Hunter's  Point,  soon  after  which  the  latter  place  began 
to  grow  rapidly  until,  in  1871,  with  Astoria,  Dutch  Kills  and  the 
surrounding  districts,  it  was  incorporated  as  Long  Island  City. 

275 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


276 


QUEENS 


The  *  refers  to  Addenda,  1912,  p.  314. 


ROUTE  44. 

SECTION  I.— HUNTER'S  POINT  AND  STEINWAY  TO 
NORTH  BEACH. 

(Figures  refer  to  Plate  LV,  letters  to  LIV). 
Thirty-fourth  Street  Ferry  to  Hunter's  Point,  Steimvay  trolley  to 
the    Placa    end    of    Queensboro    Bridge;    or  car 
front  Fifty-ninth  Street,  Manhattan,  across 
Queensboro  Bridge. 

K.  Dominie's  Hook. — Originally  an  island  surrounded  by  salt  water  marshes, 
possessed  by  Dominie  Everardus  Bogardus  and  his  wife  Anneke  Jans  Bogardus, 
about  1642;  later  confirmed  by  patent,  and  still  later  owned  by  the  Bennett 
family,  who  sold  much  of  it  to  Dr.  Nott  of  Union  College,  from  whom  it  came 
to  the  trustees  of  that  institution.  In  1842  it  was  connected  with  Williamsburg, 
Greenpoint,  Ravenswood  and  Astoria  by  a  turnpike,  now  known  as  Vernon 
Avenue.  In  1854  the  New  York  and  Flushing  Railroad  was  opened,  starting 
from  a  pier  at  the  foot  of  I'cewtown  Creek,  with  boat  connection  to  New 
York.  It  was  now  for  a  short  time  called  Nottston,  and  became  a  subject  for 
land  speculation.  In  1861  it  became  the  terminal  for  the  L.  I.  R.  R.,  and  began 
to  grow  under  the  name  of  Hunter's  Point. 

The  original  farmhouse  was  on  the  shore  of  Newtown  Creek,  near  the 
present  bridge  to  Greenpoint.  The  later  farmhouse,  standing  until  recently,  was 
a  little  farther  back  from  the  Creek. 

a-a.  Line  of  ancient  road  from  **  Maspeth  Kill  "  (Newtown  Creek)  along 
Dutch  Kills  to  Burger  Jorissen's  Mill,  thence  to  East  River,  laid  out  1640-54, 

1.  Site  of  Van  Alst  fiouse  (east  side  of  Barn  Street,  north  of  L.  I.  R.  R.), 
Dutch  Kills,  recently  icmoved.  The  original  house,  just  south,  was  on  the  old 
farm  of  Jan  Jansen  of  Ditmars  ("Jan  Platneus,"  or  Flatnose),  1643,  and  on  his 
death,  in  1651,  was  sold  to  Joris  Stevensen,  ancestor  of  the  Van  Alst  family. 
The  creek  near  by  (Indian  name  "  Canapaukah  ")  was  called  Caper's  (privatecrs- 
man's)  Kill,  as  Stevensen  had  been  a  seafaring  man.  The  Van  Alst  burial 
ground,  now  almost  blotted  ovt,  was  at  the  intersection  of  Barn  Street  on  the 
north  side  of  the  L.  I.  R.  R.  For  an  account  of  Indian  events  near  by,  see 
"  New  Amsterdam  and  its  People,"  pp.  167-8 

2.  Paynter  House  (Skillman  Avenue,  corner  Jackson),  prob- 
ably on  the  site  of  the  house  of  Burger  Jorissen,  blacksmith,  of 
New  Amsterdam  (Excursion  VII),  who  kad  a  grant  here  in 
1643.    Here  he  built  the  Paynter  House,  burned,  Jan.  i,  1913. 

/ 

3a.  First  mill  in  this  part  of  Long  Island   (called  Ryerson's  Mill  during  the 
Revolution) ;  i*. 

3.  The  mill  pond,  now  overgrown  with  reeds.     The  dam  (just  north  of  Skill- 
man  Avenue)  was  removed  in   1861,  when  the  L.   I.  R.   R.  was  built. 

b-b.  Burger's    Sluice,    constructed    through    the    swamp    to    supply    the  pond, 
still  exists  in  a  few  places  as  a  dry  ditch  paralleling  the  railroad  tracks 

Continue  on  Steinwoy  Avenue  car  to  Grand  Avenue. 


277 


Route  44  HISTORICAL    GUIDE  Steinway 

4.  Site  of  John  Hallett's  Farmhouse,  southeast  corner  Grand  and  Steinway 
Avenues.  The  large  farm,  patented  in  1654  *o  Wm.  Hallett,  lay  northeast  of 
this  point.  In  the  Revolution  it  belonged  to  Wm.  Lawrence,  a  strong  patriot. 
Here  Maj.-Gen.  Robertson  took  up  quarters  on  August  30,  1776,  and  encamped 
10,000  British  soldiers  north  of  the  house.  Two  weeks  later  he  withdrew, 
crossing  to  Westchester,  and  Gen.  DeHeister's  Hessians  succeeded  them.  Many 
balls  from  the  American  battery  at  Hoorn's  Hook  fell  on  the  heights  back  of 
the  house. 

5.  Samuel  Hallett  Farmhouse,  on  a  height  north  of  the  inter- 
section of  Newtown  and  Grand  Avenues,  is  supposed  to  have 
been  built  by  Samuel  Hallett  (a  great-great-grandson  of  the 
patantee;  see  17)  about  1752.  *2 

6.  Site  of  the  House  of  Wm.  Hallett  (grandson  of  the  patentee),  near  the 
corner  of  Newtown  and  Jamaica  Avenues,  where  (Jan.  24,  1708),  with  his  wife 
and  five  children,  he  was  murdered  by  two  of  his  negro  slaves  (**  Riker's 
AnnalSj'*  p.  142). 

c.    Site  of  the  Ridge  Road  to  Dutch  Kills,  now  nearly  closed  or  obliterated. 

7.  Middle  town,  a  hamlet,  begun  about  1800,  near  the  old  school- 
house  of  1721.  Only  one  or  two  houses  remain. 

Continue  north  on  Steinway  Avenue  to  old  Bowery  Road,  passing  on 

the  left 

B.  Luhherfs,  or  the  Great  Swamp,  dry  now,  as  the  trees  have 
been  cut. 

d-d.  Old  Bowery  Road,  now  partly  obliterated,  laid  out  i638-'5o 
by  settlers  of  the  Poor  Bowery  and  the  Out  Plantations. 

Walk  east  on  Winthrop  Avenue;  continue  on  Shore  Road 

8.  Moore  House,  well  preserved,  one  of  the  oldest  build- 
ings in  New  York,  standing  on  what  was  once  a  parcel  of  50 
acres  of  woodland  reserved  by  the  West  India  Company,  possibly 
for  ship  timber.  After  1664  it  was  patented  to  Wm.  Hallett,  who 
had  already  bought  up  the  Indian  title.  In  1684  he  sold  it  to 
Captain  Samuel  Moore,  son  of  the  Rev.  John  Moore  (see  p.  291), 
who  built  this  house  for  himself  and  his  son  Joseph  in  1690-95. 
In  1769  it  was  sold  to  Jeromus  Remsen.  Here  in  1757  several 
French  prisoners  of  war  were  lodged  on  parole,  and  it  is  said 
that  they  spent  much  time  hunting  near  by.  About  1776  it  was 
occupied  by  the  militia  officer.  Colonel  Jeromus  Remsen,  who  had 
to  take  refuge  in  New  Jersey  during  the  British  occupation. 


278 


Bowery  Bay 


QUEENS 


44  Route 


9,  10.  17th  Century  Houses,  near  the  bend  of  the  Bowery  Bay 
Road.  The  Bowery  Bay  schoolhouse,  built  in  1829,  stood  near 
the  bend.    The  Totten  Homestead  stands  opposite. 

11.  Rapalye  House  (dating  before  1750),  probably  on  the  site 
of  the  original  homestead,  and  standing  in  front  of  the  old 
family  burying-ground.  Here  Harck  Siboutsen  of  New  Amster- 
dam settled  about  1650,  receiving  his  ground  brief  in  1654.  In 
1729  his  son  Jacobus  willed  it  to  Abraham  Lent,  his  nephew. 
Dr.  Riker,  a  family  connection,  took  refuge  here  from  the  Brit- 
ish after  the  battle  of  Long  Island.  About  1800  the  house  came 
into  the  possession  of  Isaac  Rapalye,  who  held  it  nearly  half 
a  century. 

12.  Riker  Homestead,  a  rare  example  of  property  remaining 
in  the  same  direct  family  line  and  name  since  the  first  settle- 
ment. Abraham  Ryker  married  the  daughter  of  Hendrick  Har- 
mensen,  the  first  settler  of  this  part  of  Long  Island,  and  secured 
the  patent  for  this  land  in  1654.  The  present  house  is  i8th  cen- 
tury in  style  and  possibly  contains  part  of  the  original  house. 

C.  The  Poor  Bowery  (North  Beach),  historically  one  of  the  most  interesting 
I'  lrtions  of  Long  Island,  was  settled  by  Hendrick  Harmensen  in  1638,  when  he 
brought  cattle  here  from  New  Amsterdam.  He  was  for  several  years  the  only 
fanner  of  the  north  side  of  Long  Island,  and  was  called  Henricus  Agricola. 
Hendrick,  the  Boor  (farmer)  in  the  Doughty  patent  of  1642.  He  was  killed 
by  Indians  in  1643  and  his  widow  succeeded  to  the  Bowery  and  married 
Jenriaen  Fradell  of  New  Amsterdam  in  1645,  who  the  same  year  obtained 
a  ground  brief  for  the  'farm  from  Kieft.  It  contained  154  acres,  besides  the 
1 1  'uzvclicken  (Dowry  Island,  later  Luysters)  of  Bowery  Bay,  separated  by  a  salt 
water  creek. 

The  deacons  of  the  Dutch  Church  bought  the  farm  before  1654,  to  establish 
maintenance  for  their  poor,  hence  it  was  called  "  Armen  "  or  **  Poor  Bowery." 
About  1688,  they  sold  it  to  Pieter  Corneb'ssen  Timmermann  (also  called 
Luyster),  the  first  of  that  family  here.  It  remained  until  lately  in  the  possession 
of  the  (Touwenhovens   (descendants  of  the  last  named  owner). 

e-e.  The  rivulet  surrounding  the  lands  of  "Hendrick  the  farmer'*  (as  it 
is  described  in  the  Doughty  patent  of  1642),  still  flows  south  of  the  Bowery, 
draining 

1).  Trains  Meadow,  used  as  a  common  fresh  meadow  by  English  settlers 
of  Middelburg  (Newtown)  as  early  as  1662,  some  of  the  earlier  drains  being 
still  visible.  It  was  first  recorded  as  Long  Traynes  Meadow  (Long  Drains 
Meadow?).  It  was  divided  among  the  settlers  in  1678,  and  part  is  still  a  wild 
and  secluded  jungle.  The  "  rivulet  "  was  later  called  IVessells  or  Lodowick's 
Brook,   the   Indian   name   being   "  Sackhichneyah." 

13.  Kouwenhoven  Farmhouse,  now  forming  the  rear  of  a 
hotel,  probably  occupies  the  site  of  the  original  house  of  C. 
The  whole  tract  is  now  the  property  of  the  North  Beach  Im- 
provement  Co.  *3 

Continue  through  North  Beach  along  the  trolley  line,  crossing  the 

bridge. 
279 


Route  44 


HISTORICAL    GUIDE  Bowery  Bay 


14.  Jackson's  Mill  Pond,  now  nearly  dry,  the  mill  (near  the 
bridge)  being  operated  first  by  Warner  Wessells,  and  destroyed 
by  the  Indians  in  1655.  It  was  re-established  by  Pieter  Cornelis- 
sen  Luyster,  before  1670.  It  was  later  known  as  Kip's  and  Fish's 
Mill. 

f.f.  Old  Road  from  the  vicinity  of  the  present  Corona  to  this  mill,  laid  out 
about  1662. 

15.  Farmhouse  of  Abraham  and  John  I.  Rapalye  (i8th  cen- 
tury), just  across  the  bridge  on  the  right,  on  that  part  of  the 
13,000-acre  tract  patented  by  Rev.  Francis  Doughty  (1642),  re- 
served for  his  own  use.  It  came  to  the  Stevenson  family  and 
(about  1700)  to  Jesse  Kip,  their  connection  by  marriage.  The 
present  house  was  probably  built  by  Captain  Thos.  Hazard,  to 
whom  the  farm  belonged,  shortly  after  1724. 

16.  Site  of  Rev.  Francis  Doughty's  House,  or  the  house  built  by 
his  son-in-law,  Adriaen  Van  der  Donck,  the  jurist  and  determined 
opponent  of  Peter  Stuyvesant.  It  was  on  or  near  the  site  of  the  late 
Strong  residence.  It  was  for  years  the  home  of  the  Rapalye,  Remsen 
and  Strong  families  (in  lineal  descent),  and  is  described  by  John 
Davis  in  his  "  Travels  in  America,"  i8oo-'oi,  as  the  sert  of  his  fre- 
quent entertainment.  A  shore  road  probably  existed  at  the  time  of 
the  original  settlement. 

Return  by  trolley  from  North  Beach  or  walk  to  the  JacksoH  Avenue 

line. 


280 


QUEENS 


ROUTE  45. 

SECTION  II.— ASTORIA  TO  STEINWAY. 
(Figures  refer  to  Plate  LVI;  letters  to  LIV). 
Astoria  Ferry  from  East  Ninety-second  Street,  Manhattan. 

See  on  the  left,  Hell  Gate,  Great  and  Little  Mill  Rock,  Ward's 
and  Blackwell's  Islands  on  the  south  (Excursion  V,  Section  7). 
Astoria  was  originally  known  as  Hallett's  Point;  the  bay  just  below 
the  point  is  still  called  Hallett's  Cove  and  that  above  Pot  Cove.  The 
latter  is  the  scene  of  the  wreck  described  in  Irving's  "  Knickerbocker 
History  of  New  York." 

In  i860,  Astoria  and  Ravenswood  were  a  favorite  suburban  resi- 
dence district,  but  are  now  greatly  deteriorated  in  portions.  Until 
1800  this  was  the  almost  exclusive  possession  of  the  Hallett  family 
(see  Historical  Sketch  of  Queens). 

Walk  up  Fulton  Avenue  to  Main  Street. 

17.  Hallett  House  (18th  century),  near  northeast  corner  Main 
Street  and  Shore  Boulevard,  on  or  near  the  site  of  the  ancient 
stone  homestead  of  Wm.  Hallett,  original  patentee  of  1500  acres 
here.  The  shore  portion  had  been  granted  before  1638  to  Jacques 
Bentyn  of  Van  Twiller's  Council,  who  is  supposed  to  have  built 
a  house  here  destroyed  by  the  Indians  in  1643.  In  1654  it  was 
granted  by  Stuyvesant  to  Hallett,  whose  house  was  also  de- 
stroyed by  Indians  in  1655,  and  rebuilt  on  the  same  spot  about 
1670,  where  it  remained  until  supplanted  by  the  present  house, 
about  a  century  later. 

18.  Hallett  House  (opposite  17)  on  the  site  of  the  original 
house  built  by  the  patentee  for  his  son  William,  prior  to  1678, 
and  burned  in  1770. 

19.  Stevens  House  (Boulevard,  between  Temple  and  Elm 
Streets),  built  for  a  country  residence  by  General  Ebenezer  Stevens, 
who  purchased  the  land  from  the  Halletts  not  long  after  the  Revolu- 
tion, and  named  it  Mt.  Napoleon.  Here  on  July  14,  1813,  he  gave  a 
dinner  to  Mayor  DeWitt  Clinton  and  several  prominent  military  men 
on  the  occasion  of  the  inauguration  of  military  works  on  Hallett's 
Point  (known  as  Castle  Stevens  and  Castle  Bogardus)  for  protec- 
tion against  the  British. 

281  , 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Astoria  QUEENS  45  Route 

g-g.    Sunsu'ick  Creek,  now  small,  but  once  sufficient  to  help  feed  a 

20.  Tide  mill  pond  at  its  mouth,  once  the  property  of  Captain  Jacob  Blackwcll, 
later  known  as  Suydam's  Mill. 

21.  Blackwcll  stone  homestead,  built  in  the  latter  days  of  the   17th  Century, 
stood  near  the  foot  of  Webster  Street. 

h.  Hallett  Lane,  from  the  old  Hallett  dock,  followed  the  line  of  Main  and 
Greenoak  Streets  (past  the  farm  buildings  of  Wm.  Hallett,  Jr.),  through  St. 
George's  Place,  Welling  Street  (between  the  Hallett  orchards),  Main  Street, 
Newtown  Avenue  and  Grand  Avenue  to  "  The  Narrow  Passage "  (see  44)  and 
Newtown. 

22.  Site  of  the  Hallett  burying  ground,  adjoining  the  old  Astoria 
Methodist  Church,  built  in  1843,  and  now  used  as  stores  and  a  tene- 
ment (near  junction  of  Main  Street  and  Fulton  Avenue). 

23.  Site  of  House  of  Jas.  Hallett  (great-grandson  of  the  patentee)  near  corner 
Flushing  Avenue  and  Hallett  Street.  Van  A  1st  Avenue  was  laid  out  in  1774  as 
a  narrow  road  between  Jas.  Hallett's  garden  and  orchard  to  give  the  farms 
along  the  river  access  to  the  cove  and  was  provided  with  two  swinging  gates. 
It  was  in  constant  use  by  the  British  during  the  Revolution.  (For  other  Hallett 
farms  see  4,   5,  6  in  Section  I.) 

Walk  Up  the  hill  past  the  Public  Library  to  Franklin  Street  and  go 

west. 

24.  St.  George's  Episcopal  Church,  on  the  site  of  the  first 
church  erected  at  Hallett's  Cove  in  1828,  the  old  graveyard  lying 
just  below. 

25.  Blackwcll  Mansion,  between  Remsen  and  Woolsey  Streets, 
one  of  the  first  houses  erected  here  after  the  breaking  up  of 
the  Hallett  farms. 

Other  Blackweir  houses  are  at  the  northeast  corner  Franklin 
and  Remsen  Streets,  and  on  Franklin  Avenue  opposite  Wardcll 
Street. 

26.  Reformed  Dutch  Church  of  Hallett's  Cove,  near  Remsen 
Street,  cornerstone  laid  in  1836. 

27.  Presbyterian  Church,  near  Stevens  Street,  erected  1846-7. 

Return  on  Franklin  Avenue  and  go  north  on  IVoolsey  Street  to  the 

Boulevard. 

i-i.    Lawrence  Lane   (later  Linden  Street  and  now  Hoyt  Avenue),  till  lately 
lined  with   lindens.     F/,v',    Vly  or  Vlcigh  Brook,    100   feet  south,   separating  the  ' 
Lawrence   and    Hallett   estates.      It   was   named   from    Lubbert's   My   or  swamp 
(see  B,  Sec.  I)  and  its  deep  bed  may  yet  be  seen  from  behind  houses  on  Hoyt 
Avenue. 

Walk  along  the  Boulevard  to  Winthrop  Avenue. 

The  Shore  Road  Boulevard  about  1880  formed  one  of  the  finest 
roads  about  New  York,  being  well  macadamized,  protected  by  a  sea 
wall  and  lined  with  well-kept  suburban  residences.  Although  this 
section  has  deteriorated,  it  will  probably  remain  a  residence  district, 

283 


Route  45 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Astoria 


as  the  channel  of  the  river  is  too  narrow  and  the  current  too  swift 
for  docking  purposes. 

28.  Site  of  the  Edward^  Woolsey  House,  corner  Woolsey  Avenue,  burnt  in 
1898.  This  tract  was  originally  patented  to  Anneke  Jans  and  later  bought  by 
Thos.  Lawrence,  who  purchased  all  the  farms  in  this  neighborhood  to  lay  the 
foundation  of  a  great  estate.     A  house  was  built  just   before   1726  when  this 

Eart  was  sold  to  Joris  Rapalye,  who  held  it  until  1768,  when  the  house  was 
urned  and  the  farm  came  back  to  the  Lawrences,  and  the  late  mansion  was 
built.  In  Revolutionary  days  it  was  the  home  of  Jonathan  Lawrence,  a  wealthy 
New  York  merchant  patriot,  who  was  forced  to  abandon  it  during  the  British 
occupation.  Philip  J.  Livingston  lived  here  and  the  soldiers  destroyed  most  of 
the  timber.  Later  it  came  into  the  possession  of  the  Woolseys,  connected  by 
marriage  with  the  Lawrences.  The  park-like  grounds  lie  neglected,  but  there 
is  reason  to  believe  that  they  may  be  purchased  by  the  city  for  a  public  park. 

29.  A.  D.  Ditmars  House,  corner  Ditmars  Avenue,  on  a  tract 
originally  patented  to  Philip  Geraerdy,  proprietor  of  the  White 
Horse  Tavern  (see  "  New  Amsterdam  and  its  People,"  p.  12). 
His  widow  sold  it  to  the  Lawrences,  and  Daniel  Lawrence  had  a 
house  and  farm  here  prior  to  1719,  when  he  sold  it  to  Wm.  Pen- 
fold,  an  English  sea  captain  and  marriage  connection. 

The  dock,  just  north,  is  said  to  have  been  the  point  of  embarka- 
tion for  the  Hessians  m  their  pursuit  of  the  Americans  through 
Westchester. 

After  the  war  the  place  was  brought  by  Dr.  Dow  Ditmars,  whose 
son,  Abraham  D.  Ditmars,  was  the  first  Mayor  of  Long  Island 
City.  The  building  is  over  100  years  old  and  possibly  contains 
portions  of  the  original  house. 

30.  Ancient  stone  house,  corner  Wolcott  Street,  on  a  walled 
bank.  Here,  in  1653,  Teunis  Craie,  town  crier  of  New  Amster- 
dam, obtained  74  acres  from  the  Dutch  Government  C*  New 
Amsterdam  and  its  People,"  p.  89).  In  1654  he  leased  it  to  his 
son  Geurt,  on  condition  that  he  and  Gerrittsen  Vries  clear  8 
acres  and  deliver  to  him  annually  "  100  pieces  of  merchantable 
firewood."  Improvements  were  stopped  by  the  Indian  war  of 
1655.  It  was  bought  in  1681  by  Hendrick  Martensen  Wiltsee,  of 
Copenhagen,  who  built  a  house  on  the  site.  He  resisted  the 
Lawrences'  endeavors  to  obtain  the  property,  and  in  1706  he 
turned  it  over  to  his  son  Teunis,  who  sold  most  of  it  to  Daniel 
and  John  Lawrence.  The  Wiltsees  remained  in  the  old  house 
until  1737,  when  they  sold  it  to  Richard  Berrien,  and  either  he 
or  Jacob  Rapalye,  the  next  owner,  built  the  present  house,  which 
is  one  of  the  best  preserved  specimens  of  an  i8th  century  farm- 
house. 

Turn  east  on  Winthrop  Avenue, 


284 


Steinway  QUEENS  45  Route 

d-d.  Bowery  Bay  Road  is  now  largely  closed  (Section  I). 

j-j.  Berrien's  Lane,  running  towards  Berrien's  Island.  Near  the  shore  stood 
once  Cornelius  Berrien's  farmhouse,  erected  about  1727.  At  the  south  end  of 
the  lane  stood  the  little  school  of  1735,  on  a  lot  one  rod  square,  and  used  for 
100  years. 

31.  Wyckoff  House'  (i8th  century),  on  the  hill  above  Rapalye 
Street,  on  the  site  of  the  house  of  Simon  Joosten,  to  whom  54 
acres  were  granted  in  1654.  It  was  bought  by  the  Lawrences, 
held  until  1732,  and  then  sold  to  Cornelius  Wyckoff.  (It  is  now 
called  the  Peter  Rapalye  House.) 

32.  Kouwenhoven  House  (late  17th  century),  on  the  site  of  the 
first  residence  of  the  Lawrences,  who  bought  up  in  all  700-800 
acres.  In  1732  it  was  sold  to  Wm.  Leverich,  who  held  it  for  some 
years. 

33.  Burial  ground  of  the  Lawrence  and  Leverich  families, 
nearly  opposite  32,  well  kept  and  crowded  with  monuments. 

Return  by  Steinway  car  to  Thirty-fourth  Street  Ferry  or  transfer  to 

Astoria. 


285 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


QUEENS 


ROUTE  46 


SECTION  III.— MASPETH  AND  LAUREL  HILL. 
(Figures  refer  to  Plate  LVII ;  letters  to  LIV.) 


Take  Grand  Street  ear  from  Manhattan  terminus  of  JVilliamsburg 
Bridge,  or  Flushing  Avenue  (Newtozun)  ear  from  Brooklyn  Bridge  to 
Old  Flushing  Road.  From  here  may  be  made  a  side  trip  south  (sec 
below). 

k-k.  Road  from  the  Ferry  (Flushing  and  Covert  Avenues,  along  east  shore  of 
Maspeth  Kill,  to  the  bowery  of  Joris  Rapalye  and  Hans  Hansen  (Bergen), 
scene  of  Doughty's  first  seUlement.  The  road  was  laid  out  by  the  Dutch 
settlers  in  1642.  In  1643  they  were  attacked  by  Indians,  wdien  most  of  the 
houses  were  destroyed,  few  ever  being  reoccupied. 

Walk  west,  crossing  L.  L  R.  R.  Tracks  to 

34.  Queens  Head  Tavern,  southeast  corner  Maspeth  and  Flush- 
ing Avenues,  built  supposedly  by  the  town  and  leased  by  various 
landlords.  It  became  a  resort  for  soldiers  during  the  Revolution, 
later  v^as  a  well-known  stage  house  and  is  still  in  good  repair  as 
a  private  house. 

35.  DeWitt  Clinton  House,  (diagonall}^  opposite)  built  about 
1725  by  Joseph  Sackett,  Judge  of  Common  Pleas.  Riker  claims 
that  it  was  afterward  the  residence  of  Walter  Franklin,  an  opu- 
lent New  York  merchant,  till  his  death  in  1780,  and  after  him  of 
Colonel  Corsa,  of  French  and  Indian  War  fame.  DeWitt  Clin- 
ton married  a  daughter  of  Franklin,  a  niece  of  Corsa.  *4 

36.  The  Town  Dock  stood  just  west,  under  the  L.  I.  R.  R.  tracks,  on  a 
salt-water  inlet  nearly  silted  up  at  present.  Here  farmers  brought  their  produce 
to  be  loaded  on  shallow  market  boats  for  New  York.  It  was  laid  out  by  the 
commissioners  in  September,  1722,  and  used  until  the  Revolution,  when  it  be- 
came a  landing  place  for  British  supplies.  General  Warren  having  headquarters 
in  the  Clinton  House.  In  1792  the  Town  voted  to  rebuild  the  dock  at  public 
expense  and  to  erect  a  store  house  here,  dockmasters  being  elected  annually. 
After  the  establishment  of  steam  ferries  it  gradually  fell  into  disuse  and  was 
finally  abandoned  in   1865,  rapidly  going  to  decay. 

37.  Site  of  Way  Farmhouse  on  the  knoll  west  of  the  dock,  the  original  home- 
stead of  that  family  in  Newtown.  In  181 5  the  Furmans  bought  the  place  and 
erected  a  pretentious  mansion,  now  demolished,  on  the  site.  Two  rooms  were 
papered  with  scenes  from  Tclemachus  and  Parisian  views.  See  the  Mott  Pri- 
vate Burying  Ground  near  by.  A  later  Furman  House  remains  across  the 
street.    Ancestors  of  Dr.  N'alentine  Mott  rest  here. 

E.  Smith's  Island  (now  called  Furman  Island),  named  from  cither  Richard 
Smith  (a  partner  of  Francis  Doughty  in  the  first  town  patent)  or  Ilendrick 
Barctit  Smith,  an  early  settler  whose  land  ran  from  F^lushing  Avenue.  Here 
the  Dutch  laid  out  the  village  of  Arnhcm. 

287 


Route  46 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Maspeth 


Go  hack  to  35  and  walk  north  on  Betts  Avenue,  passing  on  the  left 

38.  Underbill  Covert  Farmhouse,  with  several  old  barns,  dat- 
ing back  to  the  early  i8th  Century.  John  Denman  first  located 
here  about  1662.   One  barn  is  said  to  be  the  original  homestead. 

39.  Site  of  the  Betts  Homestead,  recently  torn  down  to  make  way  for  the 
Mt.  Zion  Cemetery,  northeast  corner  Newtown  and  Betts  Avenues.  Here  Cap- 
tain Betts  located  in  1652,  and  here  he  lived  until  his  death  at  the  age  of  100 
in  1713. 

1.  Old  Brook  School  Road  (including  part  of  Newtown  Avenue),  used  as  a 
short  cut  to  Calamus  Creek  and  existing  in  1682.     Later  it  was  extended  south. 

40.  Site  of  the  Old  Brook  School  House,  built  about  1739,  and  only  lately 
removed. 

m-m.  Fresh  Pond  Road,  so-called  from  a  large  pond  now  filled  at  the  south- 
east angle  of  this  road  and  Mt.  Olivet  Avenue.  It  was  laid  out  about  1680 
to  give  access  to  disputed  lands  near  the  present  cemeteries  of  Cypress  Hills 
and  the  Evergreens. 

S.  Tract  at  junction  of  Fresh  Pond  Road  and  Cooper  Avenue,  divided  and 
settled  in   1684  to  prevent  encroachment  by  Dutch  settlers  of  adjacent  towns. 

n-n.  Calamus  Road,  the  original  road  from  the  landing  on  Mespat  Kill 
(Newtown  Creek)  to  Middelburg,  opened  about  1651,  being  the  first  line  of 
communication  with  New  Amsterdam.  It  was  later  known  as  the  Lower  Road 
to  Brooklyn  Ferry,  the  Upper  Road  (modern  Grand  Street  and  Maspeth 
Avenue)  being  laid  out  nearly  half  a  century  later.  The  calamus  in  the  ad- 
jacent swamps  gave   rise  to   its  name.     On  it  remain  several   old  farmhouses. 

F.  The  Maurice  Woods,  property  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  of  the 
Diocese  of  Long  Island,  the  gift  of  Congressman  Maurice.  The  trees  have 
probably  stood  since  the  Revolution,  when  much  of  the  Newtown  forests  were 
cut  by  the  British. 

0-0.  This  portion  of  Betts  Avenue  v/as  originally  a  wood  lane  of  the  extensive 
Betts  estate,  later  an  open  road  known  as  Featherbed  Lane, 

Walk  west  on  Newtown  Avenue,  passing 

41.  Alburtis  House,  on  Laurel  Hill  Road,  possibly  including 
the  frame  of  the  house  of  Thos.  Case,  an  eccentric  Quaker,  organizer 
of  a  strange  religious  sect,  known  as  Case's  Crew.  His  wife  inter- 
rupted the  service  in  Rev.  Wm.  Leverich's  church  at  Newtown  in 
1675,  addressing  him  as  a  "  whited  sepulchre,"  and  demanding  his 
resignation  (Riker,  p.  92).  John  Alburtis  bought  the  land  in  1682, 
and  his  family  held  it  for  over  a  century. 

42.  Peter  Debevoise  House,  corner  Newtown  and  Celtic  Av- 
enues (now  the  property  of  Hugh  McCullough),  dating  back  to 
about  1780. 


The  Newtown  and  Bushwick  Turnpike  (Shell  Road)  was  opened 
about  1840  (se    p.  298). 

Return  by  trolley  to  Hunter's  Point 


288 


QUEENS 


ROUTE  46a. 

SIDE  TRIP  SOUTH  ON  FLUSHING  AVENUE. 

(See  also  Excursion  XII,  Section  3). 

Walk  south  on  Old  Fushing  Road  to  Onderdonck  Avenue, 

43.  Cluster  of  old  houses,  marking  some  of  the  earliest  settle- 
ments of  Newtown,  two  on  the  west  side  of  the  road  being  well 
preserved: 

a.  The  Woodward  or  Woodard  House,  opposite  the  end  of 
Woodward  Avenue,  supposed  to  have  been  built  by  Joseph  Wood- 
ward about  1750,  on  a  large  farm  containing  a  great  orchard  and 
cidermill.  It  previously  belonged  to  the  Schencks,  whose  mill- 
pond  can  yet  be  distinguished  by  a  circle  of  decaying  willow 
trunks. 

b.  The  Wyckoff  Farmhouse,  just  south,  on  the  site  of  the 
house  of  Hendrick  Barentsen  Smit  (see  E),  one  of  the  first  set- 
tlers. After  a  boundary  struggle  of  over  100  years  between  the 
towns  of  Bushwick  and  Newtown,  his  farm  was  finally  adjudged 
to  be  in  Newto^^vn,  and  on  January  10,  1769,  the  line  was  fixed  at 
Arbitration  Rock,  on  the  edge  of  the  nearby  swamp.  *5 

Take  car  on  Flushing  Avenue  to  Park  Rozv,  Manhattan. 


289 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Plate  LVIII.    Rf)LTEs  47,  48,  50.  C.  K, 

290 


QUEENS 


ROUTE  47. 

SECTION  IV.— HUNTER'S  POINT  AND  WOODSIDE  TO 

CORONA. 

(Figures  refer  to  Plates  LV  and  LVIII,  letters  to  LT.) 

Take  Jackson  Avenue   Trolley  to   Woodside  car  hams. 

Jackson  Avenue  was  laid  out  about  i860  as  a  toll  road  to 
Flushing. 

See  along  it  three  milestones  marked  respectively:  "2  miles," 
"3  miles"  and  ''5  miles  from  34th  Street  Ferry"  (4,  3  and  i 
mile  from  Flushing  Bridge).  See  Appendix  A. 

p-p.  Site  of  the  British  Camp,  along  the  Dutch  Kills  Road,  traces  of  huts 
being  visil)le  until  recently. 

44.  The  Narrow  Passage,  a  tongue  of  dry  land  crossing  formerly  almost  im- 
Iiassable  swamps  (now  mostly  drained),  and  occupied  by  the  early  road.  It 
was  an  important  strategical  point  in  the  Revolution  and  was  guarded  by  the 
British. 

P.  1  he  Wolf  Swamp,  a  wet  woodland  until  1866-7,  in  early  days  infested  by 
wolves.  It  is  now  drained  in  part  and  divided  into  lots  forming  part  of 
Woodside. 

q-q.  Ancient  road  forming  Middelburg  and  part  of  Woodside  and  Bowery 
Bay  Avenues,  connecting  plantations  of  Bowery  Bay  and  Dutch  Kills,  opened 
about  1655-60. 

r-r.  Woodside  Avenue,  from  the  town  (Middelburg)  to  the  Dutch  settle- 
ments. *6 

45.  Jackson  Mansion  (corner  Jackson  Avenue  and  Bowery 
Bay  Road),  in  large  grounds,  surrounded  by  the  remains  of  an. 
old  forest.  The  .house  was  built  about  1802  by  Wm.  Paynter, 
owner  of  the  estate. 

Go  north  on  the  Bozcery  Bay  Road  {behind  45). 

46.  Site  of  the  Moore  Farmhouse  (several  blocks  east  on  Jamaica 
Avenue),  adjoining  the  small  burying  ground  now  marked  by  some 
decaying  evergreens.  During  the  Revolution  this  property  was  owned 
by  Nathaniel  Moore,  great-grandson  of  Rev.  John  Moore,  first  minis- 
ter of  the  town.  It  was  taken  by  the  British  after  the  Battle  of  Long 
Island  and  became  the  headquarters  of  Lieutenant-General  Sir  Henry 
Clinton.    A  straggling  suburban  settlement  now  occupies  the  farm.  / 

47.  Purdy  Farmhouse  (opposite  Grand  Avenue),  built  shortly 
before  the  Revolution  and  scene  of  the  shooting  of  one  of  the 
soldiers  of  the  Royal  Highlanders  Regiment  (the  "Black  Watch") 
while  on  a  marauding  expedition,  by  one  of  the  slaves  of  Cornelius 
Rapalye,  then  owner  (Riker,  p.  207). 

48.  Riker  Farmhouse  (opposite  Wilson  Avenue),  on  property 
purchased  in  1688  by  Abraham  Rycker  (or  Riker),  who  owned 
the  farm  north.    In  1717  his  son  Abraham  built  the  small  house 


291  ^ 


Route  47 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Woodside 


which  forms  the  middle  of  the  present  building.  In  the  Revolu- 
tion it  was  owned  by  his  son,  Jacobus  Riker.  In  1776  the  house 
was  plundered  by  the  British,  and  later  the  Hessian  troops  en- 
camped near  by  used  the  great  oven  to  bake  their  bread. 

Return  to  Jackson  Avenue  and  take  trolley  on  Newtozvn  Avenue  to 
R.  R.  crossing,  Woodside.    Cross  tracks  to  see  50;  the  spring  is 
reached  by  a  path  behind  50,  which  is  at  56  Betts  Avenue 

49.  The  old  Town  Spring  or  Watering  Place  (Woodside  and 
Betts  Avenues),  on  high  ground  125  feet  to  the  west  of  the  road. 
Originally  it  was  known  as  Rattlesnake  Spring,  then  Newton^s 
Spring,  from  Captain  Bryan  Newton,  in  the  Dutch  service  at 
New  Amsterdam,  who  had  in  1652  a  patent  for  the  land  running 
up  to  it.  It  still  has  a  large  flow.  There  was  once  a  large  tank 
or  pool  by  the  roadside  for  public  use,  but  this  plot,  100  feet 
square,  has  been  enclosed  as  private  property,  whether  without 
extinguishing  public  rights  is  not  known. 

50.  The  Cumberson  House,  just  south,  post-Revolutionary,  re- 
placing one  of  earlier  date,  was  plundered  by  the  British  and  later, 
near  the  close  of  the  war,  was  attacked  at  night  by  British  de- 
serters, one  of  whom  was  shot  fatally  by  Thos.  Cumberson,  then 
owner  (Riker,  p.  213).  R.  C.  Church  is  on  site  of  Sackett  House. 

Return  to  Jackson  Avenue  and  take  trolley  East^j 
s-s.    Trains  Meadow  Road  and  Old  Bowery  Road,  laid  out  before  1678. 

51.  Hazard  (later  Duryea)  Homestead,  at  the  corner.  The 
farm  was  owned  as  early  as  1740  by  Jas.  Hazard,  prominent  in 
the  Episcopal  Church  of  Newtown. 

52.  Rapalye  House,  of  the  middle  i8th  century.  Daniel  Rap- 
alye  had  a  large  farm  here  about  I737,  but  this  house  seems  of  a 
somewhat  later  date. 


t-t  was  a  road  from  the  town  to  Peter  Cornelissen's  mill,  opened  about  1700. 
The  two  large  mansions  of  Colonial  style  on  the  west  side  date  about  1840 
and  occupy  parts  of  the  large  farm  of  Colonel  Edward  Leverich  a  projector  of 
the  L.  I.  R.  R.    Tr.ey  are: 

53.  Late  residence  of  Chas.  P.  Leverich,  once  president  of  the 
Bank  of  New  York,  now  deceased. 

54.  Late  residence  of  Henry  S.  Leverich,  now  deceased. 

55.  Fish's  Store  (now  closed),  just  across  the  Flushing  Road, 
a  curious  shingled  building  occupied  as  a  storehouse  by  Thos. 
Fish  about  i8oo-'20. 

292 


Corona 


QUEENS 


47  Route 


H.  Site  of  the  Fashion  Race  Course,  the  principal  race  course  near  New  York 
1850-65,  later  supplanted  by  Jerome  Park.  The  surrounding  brick  wall  has 
mostly  disappeared  and  the  track  has  been  cut  up  into  lots. 

I.  I.  Original   home   lots  of   first  settlers  of  Middelburg 

L.  L.  On  the  west  broad  market  gardens  occupy  what  was  once  the  Common 
Fields  of  the  first  settlers  of  Middelburg. 

56.  Lent  Farmhouse,  at  the  angle  of  Flushing  and  Jackson 
Avenues  (Montgomery  Street),  overlooking  Flushing  Bay,  re- 
cently rebuilt  and  remodeled,  probably  on  the  site  of  the  earlier 
house  of  John  Ramsden,  one  of  the  first  settlers,  who  died  here 
soon  after  1688.  The  second  house  was  erected  about  1712,  a 
giant  sycamore  which  overshadowed  it  having  been  preserved. 
During  the  Revolution  it  was  occupied  by  Captain  Thos.  Law- 
rence. The  37th  British  Regiment  was  encamped  here,  i78o-'8i, 
to  guard  it  against  the  attacks  of  "  whaleboat  men "  from  the 
mainland. 

J.  Jonckers  Island  (south  shore  of  Flushing  Bay),  named  for 
"  Joncker  (lord)  Adriaen  Vanderdonck  (first  settler  of  Yonkers), 
son-in-law  of  Rev.  Francis  Doughty  (see  15,  Sect.  I).  It  was  once 
well  wooded  land  and  a  picnic  resort  of  some  fifty  years  ago  known 
as  St.  Ronan's  Well.  The  trees  have  disappeared  and  much  build- 
ing sand  has  been  carried  away  from  the  "  island.'* 

57.  Site  of  Rapalye  House,  on  the  south  side  9f  Flushing  and  Newtown 
Turnpike,  on  the  farm  occupied  by  Cornelius  Berrien  and  his  brother-in-law, 
Abraham  Brinckerhoof,  soon  after  1684;  later  by  Joris  Rapalye,  a  brewer,  and 
his  descendants;  though  long  untenanted,  it  was  kept  in  good  condition  by  the 
Elliot  family  on  whose  grounds  it  stood  until  burned  in  1906. 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


ROUTE  48. 

SIDE  TRIP— CORONA  TO  COE'S  MILL. 

From    Corona    Station    follow    trolley    east    along    Corona  Avenue 
Line  of  the  road  (u-u  Plate  LIV)  laid  out  in  early  days  from  the 
town  to  Coe's  Mill. 

58.  Burroughs  Farmhouse  (i8th  century),  well  preserved,  on 
Corona  Avenue,  between  Mulberry  and  Sycamore  Avenues.  The  fields 
of  this  farm  included  much  of  the  village. 

Titus  House,  of  Dutch  architecture,  built  about  1760,  now  used  as  a 
club  house. 

Turn  oif  at  Colonial  Avenue  to  see 

59.  The  Coe  or  Rapelye  Farmhouse.  The  house  dates  back  to 
about  1750  and  the  mill  was  established  by  Captain  John  Coe  about 
1652,  being  shown  on  the  Hubbard  Map  of  1666.  It  remained  in  the 
family  until  nearly  the  Revolutionary  period,  since  which  time  it  has 
been  called  Titus',  Rapalye's  or  Carll's  Mill  and  operated  until  lately. 
The  later  mill  was  burned  about  1875.  See  the  great  rafters  and  fire- 
place in  the  cellar  of  the  old  house. 

60.  The  Lott  House,  built  1843,  on  the  site  of  an  older  house,  lies 
on  the  other  side  of  the  creek. 

61.  Town  Watering  Place,  dating  from  latter  half  of  the  seven- 
teenth century,  the  springs  being  collected  from  over  two  acres  in  an 
old  stoned  tank  now  filled  with  soil. 

v-v  and  w-w^  Supposed  route  of  original  roads  from  Middleburg 
to  Coe's  ^lill  and  to  Jamaica,  changed  about  1750. 


294 


QUEENS 


ROUTE  50. 

SECTION  v.— MIDDLE  VILLAGE. 

(Figures  refer  to  Plate  LVIII,  and  letters  to  LIV). 

Take  Calvary  Cemetery  ear  from  Thirty-fourth  Street  Ferry  to  Luth- 
eran Cemetery  J  terminus  of  route  on  Metropolitan  Avenue. 
Go  to  left  to  Cemetery  Gate 

And  from  the  top  of  the  hill  note  view  of  this  district.    See  old 
house. 

Take  trolley  east  on  Metropolitan  Avenue,  passing 
A  new  Methodist  Church   (note  tablet)   to  St.  John's  Cemetery. 
Here  go  to  the  left  on  Dry  Harbor  Road,  passing  the  Methodist 
Cemetery  and  site  of  the  old  Methodist  ChureJi  and  crossing  Furmans- 
ville  Road  to  the 

62.  House  of  the  late  Judge  Furman.  The  road  was  so  called 
because  it  terminated  in  a  cluster  of  farms.  The  house  (of  about 
1750)  faced  a  large  pond,  lately  filled,  surrounded  by  great  black 
walnut  trees,  now  mostly  destroyed. 

Go  east  on  Furmansville  {now  called  Middle  Village)  Road  to  Trot-^ 
ting  Course  Lane. 

63.  Tompkins  Farmhouse,  one-quarter  mile  north  on  a  hill,  on 
the  east  side  of  the  road,  built  about  1760  by  Samuel  Waldron. 
During  the  winter  of  i78o-'8i  the  Royal  Highland  Regiment  was 
quartered  here,  forcing  Waldron  to  give  up  to  them  the  use  of 
his  blacksmith's  shop  and  committing  great  depredations  in  the 
locality.    Go  north  on  Trotting  Course  Lane  to  see  two  old  houses. 

Go  south  on  Trotting  Course  Lane 

(leading  to  the  South  Meadows,  laid  out  in  1668,  and  receiving  its  present 
name  in  1821,  after  the  laying  out  of  the  Union  Race  Course.) 

A  short  distance  east  on  the  JVhitepot  Road  see  ^ 

64.  Whitepot  School,  first  established  here  in  1739,  this  being 
the  fourth  or  fifth  building. 

65.  Springsteen  Homestead,  beyond  the  L.   I.   R.   R.  bridge, 

where  Casper  Joost  Springsteen  settled  in  1700.     Much  of  the 

land  around  still  belongs  to  the  family.    Two  old  houses  near  by. 

y-y.  Whitepot  Road,  laid  out  early  in  the  i8th  Centurv.  See  several  old 
farmhouses.  The  word  "  pot  "  is  probably  a  corruption  of  the  Dutch  **  put,'* 
meaning  "  pit "  or  *'  hollow."  It  was  the  bed  of  a  large  stream  long  since 
dried  up. 

295 


Route  50 


HISTORICAL    GUIDE         Middle  Village 


Return  and  go  south  on  Trotting  Course  Lane. 

66.  Van  Duyn  Homestead,  in  neglected  grounds  now  owned 
by  St.  John's  Cemetery.  The  Van  Duyns  were  original  settlers 
here,  Captain  Dow  Van  Duyn  being  active  in  the  Royal  service 
during  the  Revolution.  In  consequence  the  farm  was  confiscated 
by  the  state  government  after  the  war  and  sold  to  Thos.  McFar- 
ran,  a  New  York  merchant.  The  house  passed  through  several 
hands  and  for  a  time  was  untenanted  and  considered  haunted. 
In  1778-79  it  was  the  guardhouse  of  the  Royal  Highlanders.  Later, 
it  was  for  some  time  used  in  connection  with  a  large  dairy. 

M.  Hempstead  Swamp,  lands  allotted  and  clearing  begun  about  1670,  when 
draining  began. 

67.  Remsen  Farmhouse,  one-quarter  mile  south  on  the  op- 
posite side  of  the  road.  This  is  possibly  part  of  the  original 
dwelling  of  Abraham  Remsen,  who  in  1712  aided  in  clearing 
Hempstead  Swamp.  His  grandson,  Jeromus  Remsen,  Jr.,  was 
Colonel  of  a  regiment  of  Kings  and  Queens  County  Militia  at 
the  Battle  of  Long  Island.  The  family  were  under  constant 
British  surveillance  and  the  farm  suffered  many  depredations 
(Riker,  p.  188).  t 

68.  Site  of  the  Dow  Suydam  Farmhouse,  built  just  below  about  1736,  and 
destroyed  by  fire  a  few  years  ago. 

69.  Van  Duyn  Homestead.  WilHam  Van  Duyn  cleared  the  land  and  settled  • 
here  about  17 19,  the  family  prospered  and  built  the  present  dwelling  before 
the  Revolution.  Shortly  before  that  the  estate  was  divided  and  while  the  north 
half  was  confiscated  (see  66),  the  south  remained  in  the  family.  It  was  the 
last  cleared  land  in  this  direction,  running  into  forests  reserved  as  hunting 
grounds  by  the  Indians  in  their  deed  to  Middelburg  (1656),  now  forming  Cypress 
Hills  Cemetery  and  Forest  Park,  the  latter  being  laid  out  about  1898. 

Go  south  to  Myrtle  Avenue  and  return  by  trolley. 

tNoTE. — The  Remsen  House  has  been  taken  down  by  Mr.  Jeromus  Vanderveer, 
who  lives  opposite  the  old  site,  Trotting  Course  Lane  and  Metropolitan  avenue. 

Diagonally  opposite  in  the  old  burying  ground  see  the  stones  for  Col.  Jeromus 
Remsen  and.  other  members  of  family. 


296 


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ROUTE  49. 

SECTION  VI. 

THE  VILLAGE  OF  NEWTOWN  (ELMHURST)  CALLED  MID- 
DELBURGH  BY  THE  DUTCH 

(Figures  refer  to  Plate  LIX). 

Take  L.  I.  R.  R.  {Thirty-fourth  Street  Ferry)  to  Elmhiirst ;  or  N.  Y. 
and  Queens  County  Eleetric  R.  R.  from  foot  Borden 
Avenue,  Long  Island  City  (Thirty-fourth  Street),  to 
Elmhurst;  leave  car  at  Shell  Road. 

This  village  was  settled  early  in  1652  (Riker's  statement,  Annals  of  New- 
town, p.  27).  That  it  '*  was  begun  upon  the  street  where  the  Presbyterian 
Church  now  stands,  on  both  sides  of  which  lots  were  laid  out  "  is  so  in- 
accurate as  to  be  entirely  misleading.  The  house  lots  were  laid  out  on  the 
south  side  of  the  street  (now  Hoftman  Avenue),  and  on  the  north  side  of 
Court  Street,  the  intervening  space  being  occupied  by  a  wet  tract  traversed  by 
the  small  Horse  Brook.  The  lots  laid  out  in  this  space  (about  an  acre  or  two 
each)  were  intended  only  for  pasturage,  and  were  so  used  for  nearly  a  century. 
Then  some  small  houses  were  built,  a  few  of  which  have  survived,  giving  an 
antiquated  air  to  the  neighborhood,  while  most  of  the  other  old  houses  have 
disappeared. 

Unfortunately  the  historic  name  was  changed  to  Elmhurst  a  few  years  ago 
to  satisfy  the  fancy  of  a  real  estate  speculator. 

The  itinerary  begins  at  the  north  end  of  the  old  village,  beyond 

the  railroad  station.    Here  at  the  northwest  angle  of  Broadway  and 

Shell  Road  see 

1.  Moore  House,  the  middle  portion  being  probably  the  orig- 
inal home  of  Samuel  Moore,  son  of  Rev.  John  iMoore,  first  min- 
ister at  Newtown.  The  latter  died  in  1657,  in  occupation  of  the 
"town  house"  (10),  his  family  being  asked  by  Stuyvesant  to  va- 
cate in  February,  1661  (as  it  was  public  property),  in  favor  of 
the  newly-appointed  schoolmaster.  This  date  thus  approximately 
fixes  the  date  of  this  house,  making  it  contemporaneous  w^ith  the 
Bowne  house  of  Flushing  (14,  Sec.  VII),  these  being  two  of  the 
oldest  known  houses  in  the  vicinity  of  New  York.  In  one  of 
the  records  the  barn  lot  "  of  this  farm  is  spoken  of  in  1663,  im- 
plying the  existence  of  the  house  before  that  time.  The  property 
has  always  remained  in  the  family  of  the  original  owner. 

2.  Woodward  (later  Victor)  House  (the  north  wing,  i8th  cen- 
tury). 

The  original  homestead  (torn  down  about  1880)  stood  some  distance  north, 
the  farm  having  been  in  the  family  from  1666.  The  barn  was  occupied  by  the 
British  as  a  hospital  and  was  the  scene  of  the  shooting  by  Thos.  Woodward  of 
a   British  soldier   for  stealing  poultry    (Riker,   p.  214). 

3.  Flushing  Road,  opened  about  1815  and  long  maintained  as  a 
plank  road. 

297 


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HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Newtown 


Plate  LIX.    Route  49. 

4.  Shell  Road,  constructed  about  1840  of  crushed  oyster  shells. 

5.  Site  of  th*^  house  of  Daniel  Bloomfield,  a  resident  before  1666.  In  1840, 
after  passing  through  many  hands,  it  came  to  Samuel  Lord,  head  of  the  old 
New  York  dry  goods  house  of  Lord  &  Taylor,  Though  carefully  preserved  by 
the  Lords,  after  building  a  large  residence  east  of  it,  it  was  burned  in  1872. 

6.  Formerly  a  small  hrook  occupied  the  line  of  the  electric  road. 

7.  Old  Town  Watering  Place,  a  small  pond  for  watering  cat- 
tle, referred  to  in  1820  as  having  been  in  use  "  from  time  im- 
memorial." It  was  enclosed  by  Samuel  Lord  in  1842  by  permis- 
sion.   Pond  noii  filled  in. 

8.  Clermont  Terrace,  built,  1850,  by  Samuel  Lord  as  model 
suburban  residences. 

9.  Site  of  the  "new  house"  (so-called  in  1689)  of  Content  Titus,  who  had 
bought  the  old  "town  house"  (10)  in  1672,  where  he  resided  for  a  time. 
At  a  town  meeting  in    1689   it  was   resolved  that   the  records  be  kept   in  this 

new  house."  The  house  passed  to  his  daughter  Abigail,  her  husband, 
George  Furniss,  and  through  many  other  hands  until  destroyed,  1905-6. 

298 


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49  Route 


10.  Site  of  the  ancient  Town  House  of  Middclburg  or  N ewtozvn ,  built  about 
1654  to  be  used  as  a  parsonage,  for  public  meetings,  and  the  holding  of  re- 
ligious services,  and  first  occui)ied  by  Rev.  John  Aloore.  After  his  death 
in  1657,  the  widow  remained  in  possession  of  the  premises,  including  20  acres. 
She  married  later  Francis  Douglity,  son  of  Rev.  Francis  Doughty,  the  first 
patentee  of  Newtown.  In  166 1,  on  the  appeal  that  this  was  public  property, 
Stuyvesant  ordered  Doughty  to  give  up  the  premises.  In  1662  the  building  was 
repaired  and  newly  thatched,  two  rooms  being  then  lathed  and  plastered.  In 
1665,  at  a  meeting  of  deputies  from  Long  Island  towns  at  Hempstead  to  settle 
various  disputes,  Governor  Nicoll  and  the  Assembly  awarded  the  property  again 
to  Mrs.  Doughty.  In  1672  Content  Titus,  son  of  a  New  England  pioneer  and 
a  new  resident,  married  Mrs.  Doughty 's  daughter  by  Rev.  John  Moore,  and 
bought  the  premises.  He  spent  a  long  and  active  life  here,  dying  in  1730. 
For  some  time  he  allowed  the  town  the  use  of  the  house  for  public  meetings.. 
The  property  was  sold  to  Wm.  Sackctt,  and  in  1761  he  left  a  large  part  of  it, 
including  the  house,  to  St.  James  Episcopal  Church,  apparently  as  a  rectory. 
There  being  no  separate  rector  until  1797  (when  Rev,  Henry  \^an  Dyke  came), 
it  was  probably  leased  out.  The  English  traveler,  John  Davis,  wrote  an  in- 
teresting description  in  1798  of  the  house.  The  date  of  its  destruction  is  un- 
known.    The   present  building   is   quite   modern    (about  1840). 

11,  12.  The  present  parsonage  (separated  by  a  narrow  lane 
from  10)  and  the  modern  St.  James  Church,  dedicated  in  184Q, 
when  the  old  church  (23)  was  abandoned. *8 

13,  14.  Meadow  of  the  Church  of  St.  James,  and  lane  leading 
thereto  devised  to  the  church  by  Wm.  Sackett  in  1761.  Part  of  the 
meadow,  fronting  Main  Street,  has  been  built  on  for  50  years  or 
more. 

15.  Site  of  the  second  Town  House  of  Newtown,  built  about  1677,  and  first 
used  as  a  parsonage  until  1695,  when  a  house  was  purchased  for  the  new 
minister.  As  the  church  was  frequently  without  a  pastor,  it  was  probably 
occupied  as  a  school  and  for  town  business.  In  1747  it  was  superseded  by 
third  Town  House  immediately  adjacent,  which  was  used  until  1805,  when  a 
fourth  was  erected  on  the  site  of  15,  remaining  in  use  until  1851  (24a). 

The  Newtown  Hotel  occupies  the  site  of  these  buildings. 

15.  The  Little  Commons  (marked  on  plan  x  x  x  x)  remained  common 
until  sold  at  auction  in  1849,  rnost  of  it  being  previously  occupied  by  the 
Town  House,  etc.,  and  a  plot  given  the  congregation  of  St.  James  for  its  first 
church;  the  bulk  was  leased  for  pasturage,  etc. 

16.  The  Dutch  Reformed  Church,  built  in  1733,  octagonal  in 
shape,  with  a  high  pitched  roof,  and  used  in  the  Revolution  as  a 
British  powder  magazine.  It  was  taken  down  in  1831  and  the 
present  building  erected  in  1832. 

Go  cast  on  Union  Avenue  formerly 

17.  Dutch  Church  Lane,  or  Dutch  Lane,  leading  from  the  church  to  the  old 
Common  h'ield  of  the  first  settlers.  Widened  and  extended  in  1824-27  and  now 
called  Union  Avenue. 

18.  Negro  Burial  Ground  set  apart  by  the  town  in  1818,  now  occupied  by 
an  African  church.  The  ola  lane  (17)  here  took  an  abrupt  turn  (19)  and  the 
closed  portion  with  a  small  grove  adjoining  was  probably  given  for  this  purpose, 
on  the  straightening  of  the  lane  at  the  period  named. 

20.  The  Commons  or  North  Common  Field  for  the  heavier  crops,  grain,  to- 
bacco, Indian  corn,  etc.,  where  division  fences  need  not  be  maintained,  and 
where  settlers  could  work  in  a  body  for  security  against  Indian  attacks;  the 
"home  lots"  of  6-10  acres  being  used  for  small  crops,  houses,  barns,  pasturage, 
etc.  It  was  laid  out  about  1663,  north  and  east  of  points  marked  on  plan. 
The  land  was  divided  about  1700. 

^9Q  ^ 


Route  49 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Newtown 


20a.  Ludlow  House,  probably  the  only  old  house  built  (about 
the  end  of  the  Revolution)  in  the  Commons  Tract,  on  land  owned 
in  1738  by  Samuel  Fish,  who  resided  in  the  center  of  the  village. 

21.  Maj-Gen.  Robertson's  camp,  the  British  army  entering  Newtown  Aug.  30, 
1776,  three  days  after  the  Battle  of  Long  Island.  At  night  they  are  said  to 
have  committed  great   depredations    (Riker,  p.  190). 

Return  to  Broadway. 

22.  Site  of  old  Newtown  Hotel  (about  100  feet  from  corner  of  Cook  Avenue 
and  Broadway),  a  tavern  of  the  early  19th  century  on  land  now  belonging  to 
the  Reformed'  Church. 

23.  The  original  St.  James  Episcopal  Church,  built  1733  on 
land  granted  by  the  town.  It  is  well  preserved  and  was  used 
until  the  present  church  (12)  was  erected;  still  in  use  on  special 
occasions.  The  steeple  at  the  west  end  was  taken  down  a  few 
years  ago.  *9 

24.  Small  neglected  Burying  Ground  in  rear  of  the  church, 
24a.    Sixth  Town  Hall  (now  a  police  station  since  consolidation), 

built  1893  on  the  site  of  the  fifth  Town  Hall,  erected  1851.  The  latter 
was  an  unpretentious  structure,  on  the  south  side  of  which  was  later 
erected  a  small  one-story  brick  Town  Clerk's  Office.  The  lot  was 
originally  an  open  space  in  the  roads. 

25.  The  Town  Spring  at  the  rear  of  24  (now  filled)  and  used  till  24a  was 
built. 

26.  Site  of  the  Howard  Farmhouse  (removed  about  1886),  on  the  home  **  lot  " 
of  John  Reeder,  an  original  settler.  It  was  probably  the  site  of  Reeder's 
house,  built  toward  the  end  of  the   17th  century. 

Go  east  on  Court  Street. 

27.  The  Horse  Brook,  where  the  townspeople  watered  their 
horses. 

28.  Early  19th  Century  house  on  the  site  of  the  house  of 
Joseph  Reeder,  an  old  inhabitant  whose  family  kept  the  property 
till  1736,  when  they  removed  to  Orange  County. 

28a.    View  of  old  village  from  Prospect  and  Chicago  Avenues. 

29.  Col.  Bernardus  Bloom's  Farmhouse,  on  the  farm  composed 
in  part  of  3  home  lots  bought  by  Col.  Bloom  in  1742.  The  farm 
originally  consisted  of  40  acres  purchased  by  John  Brinckerhoof 
soon  after  1700.  It  was  long  in  the  possession  of  the  Suydams 
and  has  undergone  several  changes. 

30.  Old  Town  Burial  Ground,  in  which  most  of  the  first  set- 
tlers were  buried.  In  1901  the  remains  of  the  first  three  pastors 
and  two  prominent  laymen,  including  Content  Titus   (see  10), 

300 


Newtown 


QUEENS 


49  Route 


were  reinterred  in  the  Presbyterian  burial  ground.  Spasmodic, 
but  unsuccessful,  attempts  have  been  made  to  clear  the  ground 
and  put  it  in  order. 

30a.  The  so-called  Burroughs  House  (about  1700),  on  the  site 
of  the  home  of  Wm.  Stevenson,  sold  by  him  to  Richard  Betts  in 
1742,  and  in  the  Betts  family  for  nearly  a  century.  It  stands 
just  west  of  the  site  of  the  house  of  John  Burroughs,  an  original 
settler,  long  the  Town  Clerk.  In  1674,  sending  a  comi"&uni- 
cation  to  Gov.  Andros  reflecting  on  the  Government,  he  was  or- 
dered to  be  fastened  for  an  hour  to  the  whipping  post  in  front 
of  the  City  Hall  in  New  York  with  a  paper  on  his  breast  setting 
forth  his  offence  (Riker,  p.  91). 

30b.  Colonial  House  (about  1750),  on  the  site  of  the  house  of 
Edward  Jessup,  an  original  settler,  whose  extensive  farm  was 
considered  to  mark  the  end  of  the  town,  as  in  1660  a  thief  was 
sentenced  to  walk  from  the  Town  House  through  the  village 
*^  with  two  rods  under  each  arm,  and  the  drum  beating  before 
him  until  he  comes  to  !.Ir.  Jessup's  House." 

Return  to  Broadway. 
31.  The  Corner  House  (Broadway  and  Hoffman  Avenue), 
erected  about  1716  by  Jonathan  Fish,  who  had  here  a  tavern 
famous  for  a  century,  his  son,  Samuel,  keeping  it  (1723-67).  In 
1756  some  Acadian  exiles  were  boarded  here  by  the  authorities. 
During  the  Revolution  it  was  kept  by  Abraham  Rapalye,  a  head- 
quarters of  loyalists,  refugees  and  British  officers  and  men,  when 
its  ballroom  on  the  upper  floor  was  the  scene  of  much  gaiet}-. 
In  1776  Wm.  Sackett,  a  prominent  '*  rebel  "  here  under  arrest, 
escaped  after  getting  his  guards  drunk.  After  the  war  it  was 
called  the  Union  Hotel,  but  was  purchased  with  11  acres  of 
ground  in  1817  by  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  used  until  1821 
as  a  parsonage,  when  it  was  sold  and  used  first  as  a  store  and 
then  for  a  long  period  as  a  private  residence.  (There  is  a  mod- 
ern house  on  the  present  corner.) 

It  stands  on  the  site  of  the  house  of  Ralph  Hunt,  an  original  settler.  In 
1668  this  house  and  outbuildings  were  burned,  and  in  167 1  Hunt  gave  land  for 
the  construction  of  the  first  church  building  in  Newtown,  services  having  pre- 
viously been  held  in  the  Town  House,  which  was  just  then  decided  to  be 
private  property  (see  10). 

In  this  church  (enlarged  in  1694)  Lord  Cornbury  inducted,  against  the  will 
of  the  people,  Rev.  Wm,  Urcjuhart,  an  Episcopal  clerg>'nian.  For  preaching  in 
it  in  1707,  a  visiting  Presbyterian  minister,  Rev.  Jolin  Hampton,  was  by  C  orn- 
bury's  warrant  arrested  anci  imprisoned  in  New  '  York.  In  1715  the  church, 
again  in  the  hands  of  the  people,  was  formally  reorganized  as  Presbyterian.  In 
1716  the  new  church   was  built   (see  32). 

301^ 


Route  49 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Newtown 


Go  west  on  Hoffman  Boulevard  to  Maurice  Avenue;  follozv  the  latter 
across  the  L.  I.  R.  R.  track  and  walk  across  lots  to  the  left. 

31C.  Farmhouse  of  Jonathan  Hunt  (?)  dating  perhaps  from 
1700. 

Return  via  Calamus  Road  (passing  several  old  houses)   to  Broad- 
way and  turn  to  the  left  at  Hoffhian  Boulevard. 
31  a-b.  Old  Road  to  the  Ferry  or  Calamus  Road. 

x-x.  Hoffman  Boulevard  to  Rusdorp  (Jamaica)  laid  out  before  the  i8th 
Century. 

3id.  Upper  Road  to  the  Ferry,  laid  out  about  1696,  along  which  Aug.  30, 
1776,  Maj-Gen.  Robertson's  detachment  entered  Newtown,  '*  driving  before 
them  large  quantities  of  cattle  "  (Riker,  p.  190). 

Return  to  Hoffman  Boulevard 

2,2.  The  old  Presbyterian  Church  and  burial  ground,  erected 
1716  (see  31).  After  the  British  entry  much  damage  was  done 
this  church  by  the  loyalists,  because  the  Presbyterians  as  a  rule 
favored  the  American  cause.  Part  of  the  steeple  w^as  sawn  off 
and  lowered  to  the  ground  at  night  by  a  band  of  young '''men;  the 
building  was  then  used  as  a  guard  house  and  military  prison,  and 
afterward  demolished.  The  present  structure  was  built  1787-91 
and  is  still  used  on  special  occasions.  The  stone  churcli  opposite 
was  made  possible  by  a  special  bequest  in  1893. 

33.  Presbyterian  Parsonage,  built  1821  on  the  site  of  an  or- 
chard belonging  to  the  "Corner  House"  (31),  where  Whitefield 
preached  in  1764  to  a  large  congregation. 

34.  Large  house  end  of  i8th  Century,  builder  unknown. 

35.  Horse  Brook  Road  (see  27). 

36.  Site  of  the  Bark  Mill  and  Pond  of  Wm.  V alienee,  1721.  The  house  here 
may  be  of  the  same  date,  but  reconstructed.    The  pond  is  now  drained. 

Return  to  Hoffman  Boulevard. 

37.  House  of  Samuel  Renne,  or  the  Brettoniere  House  (from 
a  later  owner),  now  completely  modernized,  formerly  of  Colonial 
style  and  pre-Revolutionary.  It  is  the  second  house  from  the 
corner  of  Brettoniere  Street.  It  was  for  a  time  the  headquarters 
of  Sir  William  Howe,  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  British  forces, 
and  from  this  house  he  sent  an  account  of  the  Battle  of  Long 
Island  to  Lord  Germain  in  England. 

38.  Site  of  the  encampment  of  23d  Regiment  or  the  Royal  Welsh  Fusiliers, 
vestiges  of  whose  huts  have  been  found  on  the  hill  behind  37, 

38a.  Site  of  the  Baptist  Church,  erected  about  1809,  long  closed.  In  1857 
it  was  removed  to  another  site  and  known  as  **  Association  Hall,"  now  on 
Thompson  Avenue. 

302 


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49  Route 


39.  Site  of  the  Quaker  Meeting-Housc,  erected  1722  and  burned  1844. 

40.  Site  cf  the  so-called  House  of  Jacob  Field,  a  small  one-story  stone  building 
with  loopholes  in  the  garret;  probably  the  home  of  an  original  settler;  removed 
a  few  years  ago. 

41.  Road  to  South  .Meadows,  opened  1668. 

42.  Modern  house  on  the  site  of  James  Smith's  house  (an  original  settler) 
built  about  1700,  and  recently  torn  down.  Several  other  small  cottages  stood 
between  this  and  43  but  were  early  demolished,  these  lands  being  consolidated 
to  make  up  the  Presbyterian  parsonage  farm. 

43.  The  Parsonage  Farmhouse  (sold  181 1  and  then  called  the 

Thompson  or  Odckirk  House)  was  built  about  1750  on  the  site  of 
the  original  parsonage  (purchased  by  the  congregation  in  1695  with  - 
12  additional  acres).    The  Town  had  previously  (1678)  set  apart  50 
acres  here  for  the  minister's  use. 

N.  (On  Plate  LI\'),  is  said  to  have  been  an  artificial  lake  formed  by  beavers 
and  covering  the  low  grounds  between  Middelburg  and  modern  Wintield.  It 
was  drained  and  divided  among  the  inhabitants  in  1678,  at  which  time  and 
long  after   it   was  known  as   Smith's  Meadows. 


V 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


ROUTE  51 

SECTION  VIL— FLUSHING. 
(Figures  refer  to  Plate  LX ;  letters  to  LIV). 
Lo)ig  Island  or  North  Side  Railrcad  to  Flushing. 

Settlement  begun,  spring  of  1645,  by  a  small  band  of  English  colonists,  given 
permission  by  the  authorities  at  New  Amsterdam.  Although  later  a  few  Dutch 
arrived,  the  English  always  predominated.  These  settlers  came  to  possess  com- 
paratively large  tracts  of  land,  but  settled  together  upon  their  "  home  lots  "  in 
the  small  village  of  Flushing.  Unfortunately,  the  Town  Records  were  destroyed 
by  fire  in  1789,  together  with  the  house  of  the  Town  Clerk,  Jeremiah  Vander- 
bilt,  through  the  act  of  a  negress  slave,  who  was  hanged  therefor  in  the 
following  year.  The  nearest  village  in  early  days  in  this  part  of  Long  Island 
being  Hempstead,  15  miles  distant  through  the  forests,  the  only  access  of  the 
settlers  to  the  outside  world  (chiefly,  of  course,  to  New  Amsterdam)  for  a  few 
years  was  by  water  through  the  East  River  and  Flushing  Creek. 

OLD  ROADS  AND  FAMOUS  SITES  IN  FLUSHING  VILLAGE 

a-a.  Early  Road,  probably  before  1650  (Main  Street  extended  south),  to  in- 
tersect the  road  (once  an  Indian  path  from  the  Great  Plains  to  the  East  River) 
made  by  Hempstead  settlers  to  New  Amsterdam.  Part  of  it  may  have  run 
much  to  the  west  of  the  present  road. 

b-b.  The  Rocky  Hill  Road  (following  portions  of  Sanford,  Parsons  and  Queens 
Avenues),  leading  to  the  southeast  part  of  Flushing  patent,  intersecting  the 
path  to  Hempstead  and  shortening  the  distance  thereto. 

c-c.  Fresh  Meadow  Road,  branching  south  from  bb,  both  being  shown  on 
the  Hubbard  Map  of  1666, 

d-d.  Road  to  Whitestone  (now  Whitestone  Avenue),  one  branch  continuing 
east  to  several  farms  along  shore  at  "The  ^ybite  Stone;"  the  other  branch 
is  the 

e.-e.  Road  to  Lawrence  Neck,  now  College  Point. 

1.  First  Landing  Place,  later  site  of  the  Town  Dock.  A  crooked  lane  (now 
Old   Lawrence   Street)    led   to   the   same  and  to 

2.  Lawrence  Homestead,  supposed  to  have  been  on  or  near  the  site  of  the 
present  Lawrence  residence  west  of  (New)  Lawrence  Street. 

3.  The  first  dwellings,  south  side  Bridge  Street  (originally  the  upper  part  of 
Lane  to  the  Town  Dock)  and  on  both  sides  of  Main  Street  near  its  head. 

4.  The  Town  Pond  originally  on  the  site  of  the  Public  Square  and  vicinity; 
used  for  watering  the  cattle,  etc.  It  received  several  springs  east  of  Main 
Street,  and  r-.n  off  through  swampy  woodland  to  the  north.  It  was  filled  up 
about  1843. 

5.  The  Block  House  (in  1704  called  the  Guard  House)  about  on  the  present 
site  of  the  New  Armory,  built  for  defense  against  the  Indians  in  1645.  It 
was  employed  for  town  meetings  and  here,  in  1646,  the  Rev.  Fraacis  Doughty 
preached  until  1648,  when,  for  derogatory  remarks  against  the  Dutch  authorities 
at  New  Amsterdam,  it  was  closed  against  him  by  the  Schout.  Here  m  1704 
the  Rev.  \Vm.  Urquhart  held  the  first  Episcopal  services  in  the  town.  In  1776 
the  British  pulled  it  down  for  firewood.  On  its  site  in  1827,  the  Orthodox 
Quakers  (as  opposed  to  the  Hicksites,  whose  meeting-house  stands  still  a  little 
to  the  west)  built  their  first  place  of  worship. 

6.  Site  of  Prince's  Nurserv  (1737,  see  Waller's  History  of  Flushingll,  in  1750 
famous  and  kno-  n  as  the  Linnaean  Botanic  Garden  (consisting  of  eight  acres) 
forming  part  of  Farrington's  Neck  on  which  (site  unknown)  stood  the  earliest 
tide  mill  of  the  town.  •  ,      /r  r 

During  the  Revolution  the  Garden  was  preserved  by  special  efforts  ot  the 
British  officers.  It  was  visited  by  Washington  in  the  fall  of  1789.  In  1841 
Linnaeus   (now   Prince   Street)   was  opened  and  the  land  given  up  to  building. 

7.  Site  of  the  British  Beacon  or  signal  pole,  line  of  Washington  Street,  west 
of  Bowne  Avenue.  It  was  in  line  with  one  ten  miles  east  on  Sutton  s  Hill, 
Cow  Neck  (Manhasset)  and  another  on  Norwich  Hill,  south  of  Oyster  Bay, 
eighteen  miles   distant.  ,  .  ,  ,  ..^ 

8.  Site  of  British  Battery,  commanding  the  village  on  high  ground  opposite 
Bowne  Avenue. 

304 


Flushing 


QUEENS 


51  Route 


A.    FLUSHING  VILLAGE. 

Itinerary  begins  at  bridge  of  the  Whitestone  Branch  of  the  L.  I.  R.  R. 

9.  Prince  Mansion  (later  i8th  Century),  well  preserved,  cor- 
ner Bridge  Street  and  Lawrence  Avenue. 

10.  Hamilton  Hall,  southwest  corner  Washington  and  Garden 
Streets,  built  originally  at  Main  and  Locust  Streets,  in  1803,  as 
a  parish  academy  by  St.  George's  Episcopal  parish,  but,  not  meet- 
ing success,  it  was  removed  in  1810  to  its  present  site. 

Go  East  on  Broadway.  *io 

11.  Old  Quaker  Meeting-House,  Broadway  above  Main  Street, 
built  1694-5,  on  3  acres  bought  1692  by  the  Quakers  for  this  pur- 
pose and  a  burial  ground.  In  1696  they  held  their  Yearly  Meet- 
ing here  for  the  first  time,  and  in  1702  the  Rev.  George  Keith  of 
the  Church  of  England  attempted  to  preach  here,  but  was  pre- 
vented. The  building  was  shingled,  plastered  and  repaired  in  1704, 
and  the  Quaker  records  say  a  new  building  was  erected  in  1719, — 
meaning  probably  some  addition.    The  British  army  used  it  as 


Route  51 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Flushing 


a  barracks,  hospital  and  store-house,  but  in  1783  it  was  repaired 
and  restored  to  its  original  use  (Onderdonck  "  Friends  in  New 
York  and  Long  Island,"  pp.  94-95). 

Go  West  on  Whitestone  Avenue. 

12.  Mitchell  House,  pre-Revolutionary,  headquarters  of  Col. 
Hamilton  of  the  British  army,  at  the  southeast  corner  Whitestone 
and  Bayside  Avenues. 

Return  to  Broadzvay. 

13.  Aspinwall  House,  south  side  of  Broadway,  east  of  Union 
Street,  probably  built  by  John  Aspinwall  (about  1760),  a  New 
York  merchant,  and  a  British  headquarters  in  the  Revolution. 

Go  east  on  Bowne  Avenue  (formerly  Bowne's  Lane) 

14.  Bowne  Homestead,  on  an  old  lane  now  widened  and  called 
Bowne  Avenue,  corner  Washington  Street,  one  of  the  oldest,  if 
not  the  oldest,  of  buildings  extant  in  the  vicinity  of  New^  York. 
It  was  built  by  John  Bowne,  an  English  Quaker,  who  settled  here 
about  1655.  For  opening  it  for  the  Quaker  conventicles  he  was 
arrested  by  the  Dutch  authorities  in  1662  and  sent,  ii:  1663,  for 
trial  to  Holland.  But  he  was  soon  released,  and  he  returned  in 
1665  (after  the  surrender  to  the  English),  and  his  house 
continued  to  be  used  for  Quaker  meetings,  the  celebrated 
George  Fox  being  entertained  here  in  1672  on  his  visit  from  Eng- 
land (see  15,  Sect.  VIII).  It  is  now  a  historical  museum  under 
the  care  of  Miss  Parsons,*  and  contains  much  colonial  furniture, 
copper,  silver  and  brassware,  wearing  apparel,  etc.  The  sides  of 
the  house  are  covered  with  hand-made  shingles.  *ii 

15.  Fox  Oaks,  once  nearly  opposite  the  Bowne  House,  now 
marked  by  a  tablet  on  a  boulder  at  the  edge  of  the  street  (erected 
by  the  Flushing  Historical  Society,  October  12,  1907),  stating  the 
fact  that  George  Fox  (founder  of  the  Society  of  Friends)  preached 
here  in  1672.    (Fox  Journal,  8th  ed..  Vol.  II,  pp.  167-174.) 

Go  down  Washington  to  Main  Street  and  ivalk  south. 

16.  Old  house  (end  of  i8th  century),  27  Main  Street,  raised 
and  a  modern  story  placed  beneath  it.  Other  old  houses  similarly 
disguised  may  exist  in  the  neighborhood. 

*  Fee  for  admission  25  cents;  address  for  information  Miss  Parsons,  371 
Broadway,  Flushing. 


306 


Flushing 


QUEENS 


51  Route 


17.  St.  George's  Episcopal  Church  (about  1850),  and  in  front 
of  the  church  built  in  1812,  still  used  for  church  purposes.  The 
first  Episcopal  services  were  held  in  the  Block  House  (see  5), 
then  a  church  was  built  here  in  1746,  the  land  being  given  in 
1749  by  Captain  Hugh  Wentworth,  and  the  original  building 
completed  in  1761  through  the  liberality  of  John  Aspinwall  (13). 

Tablet  (erected  in  1803)  withni  the  church,  in  memory  of 
Francis  Lewis,  a  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  who  was 
church  warden  here  in  1765-90. 

18.  Garretson  House,  east  side,  between  Lincoln  and  Locust 
Streets  (latter  17th  Century),  a  well-preserved  farm  house. *  12 

19.  Flushing  Institute  (Amity  Street),  built  in  1827,  later 
known  as  St.  Ann's  Hall,  and  in  1845  turned  by  Ezra  Fairchild 
into  a  famous  boarding  school  for  boys. 

20.  St.  Thomas  Hall  built  1838-9;  became  known  later  as  St. 
Joseph's  Academy  for  young  ladies. 

21.  Sanford  Hall  (Jamaica  Avenue  south  of  Franklin  Place), 
originally  the  stately  mansion  of  Nathan  Sanford,  Chancellor  of 
the  State  of  New  York,  who  in  1822  bought  up  several  farms 
fronting  on  the  present  Jamaica  Avenue  and  built  this  house  in 
1836.  Dying  soon  after,  the  house,  with  its  park-like  grounds, 
running  back  to  Parsons  Avenue,  came  into  the  possession  of  Dr. 
John  Macdonald,  .who  here  established  a  celebrated  private  in- 
sane asylum. 


307 


Route  51  HISTORICAL    GUIDE        Outlying  Points 

OUTLYING  POINTS. 
B.    SOUTH  OF  FLUSHING  VILLAGE. 

22.  Tract  of  the  Willett  family  (southwest  of  the  village  and  extending  to 
the  Jamaica  line),  separated  from  its  outlying  farms  by  Kissena  Brook.  The 
site  of  the  homestead  is  not  known,  but  Thos.  Willett,  an  English  soldier  in 
the  Dutch  service  at  New  Amsterdam,  left  two  children,  William  and  Thomas, 
by  his  wife  Sarah,  who  later  married  Charles  Bridges,  an  English  officer  under 
the  Dutch,  and  called  by  them  Carel  van  Brugge  (New  Amsterdam,  p.  192 
et  seq.).  Bridges  and  his  family  became  early  residents  of  Flushing  and  he 
was  one  of  the  patentees  named  in  the  Flushing  town  patent  in  1664.  He 
claimed  some  interest  in  the  above  tract  of  land  whether  in  his  own  right  or 
that  of  his  wife.  After  his  death  in  1682,  a  patent  was  issued  to  his  brother 
Thomas  and  to  Thos.  Willett,   stepson  of  Charles  Bridges. 

23.  Willett  Burial  Ground  is  at  north  end  of  Cedar  Grove  Cemetery 
(reached  by  B.   R  T.  trolley  to  entrance  of  Cemetery). 

24.  Spring  Hill  Estate  (Remsen  Avenue  and  Mill  Road),  of  Lieutenant-Gov- 
ernor Cadwallader  Colden,  part  of  the  Willett  property  bought  by  Colden  in 
1762.  He  held  the  office  of  acting  Governor  of  New  York  more  than  six  years, 
between  1760- 1775,  and  spent  his  last  days  here.  His  son  David  aiding  the 
British,  the  farm  was  sold  under  forfeiture  after  the  war  and  has  passed 
through  several  hands,  not  being  well  kept  up  of  late  years. 

Fresh  Meadow  Tract  (south  of  Flushing  Cemetery),  was  settled  in  early 
days  and  many  British  troops  were  quartered  here  in  the  Revolution. 

24.  Site  of  Duryea  Farm  House,  near  the  south  end  of  Flushing  Cemetery, 
serving  as  British  headquarters. 

From  (21)  above  go  south  to  Forest  Avenue,  go  three  blocks  to  left 
and  take  Tamaica  trolley  to  Fresh  Meadow  Road. 

25.  Lawrence  House  (Lawrence  Road,  east  of  Fresh  Meadow 
Road). 

26.  West  House  (west  of  Fresh  Meadow  Road,  south  of  North 
Hempstead  Road). 

27.  Old  house  (corner  Black  Stump  Road  and  Fresh  Meadow 
Road). 

28.  Wright  Homestead  (?),  half  a  mile  west  on  the  Jamaica 
Road  (south  of  North  Hempstead  Road),  small,  and  perhaps  dat- 
ing back  to  the  early  i8th  Century. 

C.    SOUTHEAST  CORNER  OF  FLUSHING  TOWNSHIP. 
Best  reached  from  Floral  Park  Station,  L.  1.  R.  R. 

29.  Dongan  or  Earl  of  Limerick's  Plantation,  granted  to  Gov.  Dongan  in 
1683  and  including  400  acres  of  woodland,  Hempstead  adding  400  acres  of  wood- 
land and  prairie  north  of  Floral  Park  and  Hyde  Park.  He  spent  some  time 
here  and  planned  to  entail  it  to  his  nephews,  but  it  was  sold  after  his  death 
to  pay  his  debts.  Peter  Smith,  in  1720,  bought  the  part  containing  the  house, 
which  lay  on  the  east  side  of  the  road  leading  from  Floral  Park. 

30.  Farm  house  of  about   1750,  well  preserved,  half  a  mile 
north  of  Jericho  Turnpike,  the  only  ancient  house  site  on  Don- 
gan   tract.      Probably    Dongan's    house    was    of    a    similar  type, 
stories  of  his  living  in  state  in  his  "  Manor  of  Queens  Village 
to  the  contrary  notwithstanding. 

31.  Strickland's  Tavern;  site  (Jericho  Turnpike  and  Rocky  Hill  Ro^d)  ante- 
dating the  Revolution  and  plainly  depicted  on  Stewart's  Map  of  1797,  even  the 
wagon  sheds  and  sign  boards  being  shown. 

308 


Murray  Hill 


QUEENS 


51  Route 


D.    MURRAY  HILL. 
Reached  from  Murray  Hill  Station,  L.  I.  R.  R. 

32.  The  W.  Bowne  residence  (Mitchell  Avenue  and  Fourth 
Street),  formerly  a  stately  mansion  in  a  large  grove,  approached 
from  Broadway  by  a  wide  drive  shaded  with  tall  elms.  But 
streets  have  been  cut  through  and  small  houses  erected  near  by, 
destroying  the  original  picturesqueness. 

33.  Murray  Homestead,  of  Dutch  Colonial  style,  built  about 
I775>  south  side  of  Broadway,  east  of  Murray  Lane,  Murray  Hill, 
and  the  home  of  the  family  connected  with  the  Murrays  of  Mur- 
ray Hill,  Manhattan  (Exc.  V,  Section  IV);  the  present  Mr.  William 
K.  Murray  is  a  great-grandson  of  the  famous  Mrs.  Murray,  who 
aided  in  the  saving  of  Washington. 

E.    COLLEGE  POINT  AND  WHITESTONE. 

(Reached  from  College  Point  Station,  L.  I.  R.  R.,  or  College  Point 
trolley,   from   Thirty-fourth  Street  Ferry   to  Thirteenth 
Street  and  Third  Avenue,  College  Point;  turn 
to.  the  right  up  Third  Avenue.) 

34.  Lawrence  Farmhouse,  on  the  Lawrence  Neck  Road, 
now  Third  Avenue  and  Twenty-first  Street,  College  Point,  east 
of  the  railroad  crossing.  It  is  of  the  Eighteenth  Century;  in 
fairly  good  condition. 

35.  Wolf  Pit  Hill  Farm,  of  the  Powell  family,  in  Whitestone, 
on  the  same  road,  east  of  Whitestone  Road  (probably  about  1750). 

36.  Old  Landing  and  Ferry  to  Westchester,  reached  by  a  lane,  traces  of 
which  remain  west  of  the  railroad,  called  Ferry  Road.  Here,  December  15, 
1708,  Governor  Lovelace  landed  on  his  arrival  after  a  rough  passage  from 
England.  He  reached  New  York  by  land  two  or  three  days  later,  June  17, 
1726,  Francis  Doughty  and  others  received  a  patent  for  the  exclusive  right  of 
maintaining  a  ferry  from  here  to  the  mainland,  although  it  had  probably  been 
a  crossing-place   for  some  time. 

37.  Fort  Hamilton,  shown  roughly  on  the  Stewart  Map  as  on  the  low  bluff 
just  east  of  the  L.  L  R.  R.  sheds.  It  was  built  by  the  British  during  their 
occupation  of  Long  Island  and  named  for  Colonel  Archibald  Hamilton,  of 
Flushing,  a  prominent  British  commander.  Remains  consisting  of  brick, 
masonry,  etc.,  were  unearthed  here  in  December,  1907. 


309 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


ROUTE  52. 

SECTION  VIIL— JAMAICA. 
(See  Plates  LXI  and  LXII). 

As  no  complete  history  of  this  town  has  been  written,  the  chief  facts  must 
be  gleaned  from  memorials  of  the  several  churches,  scattered  records  and  old 
maps.  The  first  settlers,  all  English,  purchased  the  land  from  the  Yemacah 
Indians  (hence  the  name)  and  made  the  first  settlement  at  the  intersection  of  the 
Hempstead  Road  (to  New  Amsterdam  ferry)  with  the  Flushing  Road.  The 
Dutch  authorities  called  the  settlement  Rustdorp  (frequently  spelled  Rus- 
dorp  "),  but  this  name  was  soon  abandoned.  The  Yemacahs  probably  were  lo- 
cated along  the  banks  of  the  stream  connecting  Beaver  Pond  with  Jamaica 
Bay.     (For  other  historical  notes  see  Historical  Sketch.) 


Plate  LXI.    Route  52. 

1.  Site  of  Rsaver  Pond  (now  filled),  once  occupying  the  space  between 
Beaver,  South  knd  Church  Streets  and  Rockaway  Road. 

2.  The  Parsonage  Lot  (east  angle  Fulton  and  Beaver  Streets,  extending  to- 
ward i),  reserved  from  the  beginning,  and  on  which  was  erected  a  parsonage  in 
or  about  1662.     It  was  used  for  other  town  purposes,  including  the 

3.  Town  Burial  Ground,  occasioning  a  long  contention  between 
the  Presbyterians  and  the  less  numerous  Episcopalians,  Lord 
Cornbury  confiscating  it  for  the  use  of  the  latter.  The  ,Rev.  Mr. 
Hubbard  was  accordingly  ejected  July  4,  1704,  and  the  Rev.  Wm. 

310 


Jamaica  QUEENS  52  Route 

Urquhart,  the  newly-appointed  Episcopalian  incumbent,  although 
violently  opposed  by  the  townspeople,  held  it  until  1710.  Then, 
through  the  marriage  of  a  Presbyterian  theological  student  to 
the  daughter  of  Urquhart's  widow,  it  came  back  to  the  Presby- 
terians and  was  held  by  them  until  1813,  when  sold.  See  the 
Memorial  Chapel  of  the  Laidlow  family  in  the  east  end  of  the 
yard. 


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Plate  LXII.    Modern  Jamaica.  C.  K. 

Walk  north  to  Fulton  Avenue. 


4.  Site  of  the  first  Meeting  and  Sessions  House,  on  what  seems  to  have  been 
originally  part  of  the  Parsonage  Lot  (west  corner  Fulton  and  Beaver  Streets), 
built  about  1663,  and  used  for  religious  as  well  as  town  meetings  (X.  Y. 
Ecclesiastical  Records,  p.  1892);  it  was  only  26  feet  square.  Governor  Nicoll 
having  determined  to  organize  Jamaica  with  adjoining  territory  for  judicial  and 
legislative  purposes  into  "  the  West  Riding  of  Yorkshire,"  proposed  that  the 
Long  Island  towns  lay  special  taxes  to  erect  a  larger  building  at  Jamaica  as  a 
Sessions  and  Meeting  House.  This  was  done  in  1667,  the  new  Sessions  House 
and  prison  standin^^  next  to  the  old  town  house,  which  later  was  made  at> 
annex  to  the  prison.  Still  later,  the  Jamaica  Hotel  occupied  this  spot  for 
many  years. 

Walk  zi'est  on  Fulton  Street. 
5.  The  Dutch  Church  (corner  Church  Street),  on  the  site  of 
the  first  church  (built  1716),  an  octagonal  structure,  and  of  the 
second  (1832),  burned  in  1857.  Previous  to  1716  the  congrega- 
tion worshipped  with  the  Presbyterians  in  their  temporary  meet- 
ing house  (see  12).  See  notice  in  front  of  the  church  with  coat  of 
arms  and  date  of  organization,  1702. 


Route  52 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Jamaica 


6.  The  King  Mansion  (incorrectly  called  "  Manor/'  as  there 
never  was  a  *  manor "  in  Queens  County — it  being  inconsistent 
with  the  township  system,  under  which  this  part  was  settled), 
erected  about  1750,  and  in  1805  becoming  the  country  seat  of  Ru- 
fus  King,  one  of  the  first  two  New  York  senators;  also  of  John 
A.  King  (son  of  Rufus),  governor  from  1856  to  1858.  Though 
severely  simple,  this  house  formerly  presented  a  very  imposing 
appearance,  owing  to  its  extensive  grounds,  surrounded  by  a 
thick  hedge  of  large  forest  trees. 

The  grounds  are  now  public  property,  known  as  King  Park, 
and  the  mansion  (bought  by  the  town  in  1896)  is  fitted  up  in  part 
as  a  colonial  museum  under  the  care  of  the  "  King  Manor  Asso- 
ciation." It  is  free  and  open  to  the  public  on  Mondays  (for  in- 
formation address  Mrs.  E.  C.  Chickering,  Sec.  King  Manor  As- 
sociation, Jamaica,  N.  Y.). 

Walk  east  on  Fulton  Street. 

7.  Grace  Episcopal  Church  (east  of  Church  Street),  on  the  site 
of  the  first  church  of  1734  and  the  second  (1822),  burned  in  1861. 

8.  Original  site  of  Union  Hall  Academy  (southwest  corner  Fulton  and  Wash- 
ington Streets),  a  famous  educational  institution  (the  third  academic  building 
on  Long  Island,  after  East  Hampton  and  Flatbush),  erected  by  voluntary  con- 
tributions about  1792,  and  succeeded  in  1820  by  a  larger  edifice,  the  later 

9.  Union  Hall  Academy  (west  side  Union  Hall  Street,  near  L. 
I.  R.  R.),  still  standing  and  now  used  for  dwellings.  The  old  hall 
continued  in  use  for  some  time  as  a  female  seminary,  but  was 
burned  in  1841.  The  principal  was  Miss  Eliza  McHanna,  a  native 
of  Ireland,  who,  in  1832,  married  the  Rev.  Wm.  Thompson,  an 
American  missionary,  whom  she  accompanied  to  the  Holy  Land, 
dying  soon  after  in  Jerusalem. 

10.  Site  of  the  Court  House  of  1709  (apparently  occiipying  part  of  the  site 
of  the  present  County  Clerk's  Office),  where  in  17 10  the  Episcopalians  held  serv- 
ices until  1734.    A  new  Court  House  was  built  in  1786  near  Mineola. 

11.  Van  Wyck  House,  southwest  corner  New  York  Avenue. 

12.  Site  of  the  first  Presbyterian  Church  building  (middle  of  Fulton  Street, 
southwest  of  the  present  structure),  **  a  stone  church  with  a  high  spire  and  a 
bell,"  erected  in  1699,  but  seized  (July,  1703)  by  the  Episcopal  rector,  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Bartow,  who  was  backed  by  Lord  Cornbury.  The  latter  forbade  the 
Presbyterians  to  use  it,  but  in  1708,  after  Gov,  Lovelace's  appointment,  the  two 
sects  used  it  alte'^nately,  bv  advice  of  the  colonial  authorities.  In  1710  the 
Episcopalians  were  excluded,  and  in  1727  the  Presbyterian  claims  were  con- 
firmed by  the  Court,  and  they  used  this  building  until  the  present  church  was 
built. 

13.  The  Presbyterian  Church,  erected  1814  (see  12).  See  tab- 
lets within  containing  names  of  former  pastors. 

14.  Colonial  Hall  (opposite  13)  opened  in  1843  as  a  female 
seminary,  under  Miss  Mary  Adrain,  remodeled  about  1897  by 
Ex-Sheriff  Wm.  C.  Baker,  to  be  used  as  a  public  hall  and  for  club 
rooms,  and  now  used  as  a  boarding  house. 

312 


Jamaica 


QUEENS 


52  Route 


15.  Site  of  Henry  Townsend's  House  (northwest  corner  Clinton  Avenue, 
where  in  1657  he  sheltered  some  Quakers  who  had  come  to  New  Amsterdam, 
presumably  bound  for  Rhode  Island.  They  had  landed  at  Flushing,  which 
they  were  compelled  to  leave,  Wm,  Hallett's  banishment  for  harboring  Baptists 
having  proved  the  hostile  attitude  of  the  authorities.  Finally  John  Bowne 
placed  his  house  at  their  disposal. 

16.  Site  of  the  old  windmill  (see  early  plan  of  Jamaica)  south  of  Fulton 
and  east  of  Canal  Street,  a  venerable  round  building,  in  later  years  used  as 
a  carpenter  shop.     Its  wooden   "wings"   were  blown   down  in    1841.  *i3 

OUTLYING  POINTS  NORTH  OF  FULTON  STREET. 

17.  Old  House  (i8th  Century)  southwest  corner  Flushing  Av- 
enue and  Willett  Street. 

18.  Site  of  Duke's  Woods  on  the  hill  portion  of  the  King  Farm,  where  could 
once  be  seen  the  grave  of  **  Duke,"  a  negro  slave,  the  inscribed  headstone  bat- 
tered with  the  bullets  of  thoughtless  sportsmen. 

POINTS  SOUTH  OF  FULTON  STREET. 

19.  Baisley*s  Mill  Pond,  near  Locust  Manor,  where  the  bones 
of  a  mastodon  brought  here  in  the  glacial  drift  were  discovered 
in  1858. 

20.  Duryea's  Mill  site,  Three  Mile  Mill  "  southwest  of  19  near  its  outlet, 
famous  in  early  days. 

21.  Seat  of  Citizen  Genet,  on  the  Rockaway  Road,  south  of  19  (as  shown  on 
the  Stewart  Map  of  1797)  on  a  farm  of  370  acres  conveyed  to  him  by  his 
father-in-law,  DeWitt  Clinton.  October  17,  1795.  Although  recalled  by  the 
French  government  at  Washington's  request,  because  of  his  insolence  and 
arrogance,  and  insults  to  the  administration,  he  continued  to  live  here,  as 
a  private  citizen  for  several  years,  ending  his  days  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
State. 

22.  Ditmars  Farm  House,  corner  Rockaway  Road  and  Lincoln 
Avenue,  claimed  to  be  about  180  years  old. ' 

23.  Greenwood  House,  Lincoln  Avenue  near  Hawtree  Creek 
Road. 

Turn  down  Hawtree  Creek  Road. 

24.  Old  House  on  Hawtree  Creek  Road  about  half  a  mile  be- 
low 23. 

See  on  left  across  Lincoln  Avenue 

25.  Van  Sicklen  House  and  ancient  barns,  on  Road  to  Bergen's 
Landing,  just  southwest  of  23. 

Continue   across  Rockazuay  Road   passing   stud   farm   of  John    C.  ' 
Stevens,  owner  of  the  yacht  "  America." 

26.  Thomas   Bergen  House   (built   1805)    with  large  gambrel 
window. 

Turn  to  left  on  Old  South  Road. 

27.  Site  of  Bergen  Homestead  of  1700  (near  first  house  on  left). 

28.  Jacob  Bergen  House  one-third  of  a  mile  further.  ^14 

Return  via  Lincoln  Avenue  to  trolley  for  IVoodhaven, 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


ADDENDA,  1912 

EXCURSION  NO.  XL— QUEENS. 

*i  (p.  277).  A  millstone  from  this  or  another  old  mill  may  be  seen 
imbedded  in  the  concrete  sidewalk  at  437  Jackson  Avenue,  said  to  have 
been  imported  from  Holland  by  the  Brouchard  family,  which  settled 
here  in  1657.  It  was  placed  here  by  ]Mr.  W.  Elmer  Payr.ter,  whose 
grandfather  bought  the  mill  property.  ^Ir.  Paynter  had  a  collection 
of  Revolutionary  relics  and  a  picture  of  the  old  Van  Alst  house 
(see  i)  in  his  real  estate  office  at  171  Hunter  Avenue.  Barn  Street 
(now  nameless),  on  which  was  the  Van  Alst  house  and  burial  ground, 
runs  off  at  374  Jackson  Avenue.  The  body  of  Richard  Hunter  still  lies 
here  unmarked. 

The  Paynter  House  (No.  2)  is  nearly  opposite  449  Jackson  Avenue. 
It  is  said  to  have  been  built  about  1720,  and  will  probably  soon  disappear. 
*2  (p.  278).    This  house  has  disappeared. 

The  Brielle  homestead,  about  one  hundred  years  old,  remains  at 
325  Grand  Avenue,  near  Brielle  (now  15th)  Avenue,  and  is  occupied 
by  descendants  of  the  original  owners,  who  bought  the  land  from  the 
Lawrences. 

*3  (p-  -79)-  The  hotel,  known  as  ''German  Castle,''  stands  some 
distance  up  on  the  hill. 

The  Bowery  Bay  Cemetery  lies  near  the  western  end  of  the  Beach. 
It  contains  stones  of  the  eighteenth  century  for  members  of  the  Rapelye, 
Cornell,  Luyster,  and  other  families  of  the  neighborhood. 

*4  (p.  287).  During  the  Revolution  the  house  was  occupied  by 
Gen.  Warren  of  the  British  army,  and  from  the  Town  Dock  near  by 
he  superintended  the  embarkation  of  his  army  from  Newtown  Creek  to 
Kip's  Bay,  when  New  York  was  taken,  September  15,  1776. 

*4  (p.  287).  ^M^ile  residing  here.  De  Witt  Clinton  developed  his 
plans  for  the  iiv\Q  Canal,  and  here  he  received  the  news  of  his  unsuc- 
cessful candidacy  for  the  Presidency.  From  this  home  he  went  to 
Albany  to  act  as  Governor  of  the  State. 

Later  this  house  was  occupied  by  Judge  David  S.  Jones,  whose  father  I 
has  been  called  "the  father  of  the  New  York  Bar."  j 

The  homestead  was  converted  into  a  place  of  amusement  known  as  | 
"Clinton  Park,"  and  became  a  favorite  Sunday  dance  hall :  later  it 


QUEENS 


became  a  tenement,  which  it  continues  to  be,  although  it  has  been 
proposed  to  preserve  it  as  an  historical  museum.  Within  may  be  seen 
the  original  Dutch  doors,  wide  hall,  winding  stairs  and  some  of  the 
great  fireplaces.  The  old  buttonwood  tree,  i8  feet  in  diameter,  under 
which  Clinton  is  said  to  have  frequently  sat,  remains  in  the  grounds. 
(See  "Historic  Long  Island  Homes.") 

*5  (p.  289).  The  Cochran  House  stands  midway  between  Metro- 
politan and  Woodward  Avenues:  the  Mott  House  between  this  and 
the  Woodward  House;  the  Schoonmaker  House,  with  gambrel  win- 
dows, stands  opposite  the  Woodward  House. 

The  Wyckoff  House,  at  1375  Flushing  Avenue,  was  the  last  home  of 
Peter  Wyckoff,  of  the  fourth  generation  living  here.  He  died  here  in 
the  early  part  of  1910  at  the  advanced  age  of  82  years.  He  was  inter- 
ested in  banks  and  railroads  and  was  President  of  the  Grand  Street 
and  Newtown  car  line. 

*6  (p.  291).  Recently  removed  to  Seabright,  N.  J.,  at  the  request  of 
the  late  owner,  Mrs.  John  L.  Riker,  one  of  the  Jackson  family. 

*7  (p.  292).  A  better  route  for  this  portion  of  the  Excursion  is  as 
follows : 

Continue  on  Jackson  car  to  Flushing  Avenue,  where  see  56  and  57. 
On  the  left  in  passing  may  be  seen  51  and  52.  Return  by  the  same 
trolley  to  Junction  Avenue.  51  and  52  may  be  visited  by  following 
Junction  Avenue  and  Old  Bowery  Road;  then  return  to  Junction  Avenue 
and  take  trolley  soutja,  passing  53,  54,  55  to  Main  Street.  Walk  east  to 
Sycamore  Street  and  north  to  Linden  Park.  Here  is  a  shell  from 
the  Maine,  mounted  in  1912  on  a  granite  base  by  the  Hugo  Kruse  Camp, 
Spanish  War  Veterans,  in  memory  of  Hugo  E.  Kruse,  who  lost  his 
life  when  the  Maiuc  was  destroyed.  Return  via  L.  L  R.  R.  from  Corona 
Station. 

*8  (p.  299).  Within  the  church  see  tablet  erected  by  the  Rev. 
Edward  M.  McGuffey,  the  present  rector,  in  1900,  in  memory  of  the 
Rev.  William  Urquhart,  the  first  rector,  who  organized  this  church  in 
1704.  The  rector  has  the  custody  of  a  valuable  collection  of  documents 
and  relics  associated  with  the  history  of  the  church  and  of  Newtown, 
listed  and  described  in  his  "Souvenir  Book  of  Saint  James'  Church,*' 
which  also  contains  some  interesting  illustrations  and  a  chronology 
of  the  town  and  the  church. 

*9  (p.  300).  The  original  wainscot  and  gallery  have  been  preserved. 
•  Prince  William  (later  William  IV  of  England)  worshiped  here 
occasionally. 

*io  (p.  305).  Soldiers*  Monument.  A  committee,  called  The  Fourth 
of  July  Committee,  and  headed  bv  Hon.  L.  Bradford  Prince,  erected  the 

315  ^ 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Liberty  Pole  at  the  western  end  of  Flushing  Park,  intersection  of 
Broadway  (Jackson  Avenue)  and  Main  Street. 

In  1865  a  movement  was  inaugurated  for  the  building  of  a  Soldiers' 
Monument  by  popular  subscription.  The  monument  was  designed  by 
Orange  Judd  of  Flushing  and  erected  at  the  apex  of  Flushing  Park 
under  the  auspices  of  the  George  Huntsman  Post,  G.  A.  R. 

*ii  (p.  306).  The  house  was  erected  in  1661.  During  the  Revolution 
officers  of  dragoons  were  quartered  here. 

*i2  (p.  307).  This  is  really  the  "Bloodgood  Homestead,"  built  in 
1642  (?)  by  Daniel  Bloodgood,  who  died  here  in  1897,  leaving  it  to 
his  sister,  Eliza  Ann  (Bloodgood)  Garretson,  who  willed  it  to  her  heirs. 
It  has  recently  been  demolished. 

*I3  (p.  313).  The  Goffe  House  is  an  old  house  situated  on  Grand 
Street.  It  was  known  as  the  Wessel  Smith  residence  many  years  ago. 
John  O'Donnell,  an  old  resident  of  Jamaica,  reports  that  when  he  came 
to  town  in  1844  the  house  was  then  standing. 

Pettifs  Hotel,  Grand  Street,  near  Flushing  Avenue,  was  burned  to 
the  ground  about  six  years  ago. 

The  Soldiers*  and  Sailors'  Monument,  on  Hillside  Avenue,  at  the 
intersection  of  Bergen  Avenue,  was  erected  by  voluntary  subscription 
collected  under  the  auspices  of  the  Alfred  M.  Wood  Post,  No.  368, 
Dept.  N.  Y.,  G.  A.  R.  F.  W.  Buckstuhl  was  the  sculptor.  It  was 
unveiled  on  Memorial  Day,  1896. 

HOLLIS  HEIGHTS 

*I4  (p.  313).  In  P.  S.  35,  Palatina  Avenue,  is  a  tablet,  erected  1912 
by  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution,  N.  Y.  State  Society,  in  memory  of 
Gen.  Nathaniel  Woodhull,  an  officer  of  the  Continental  Army,  who 
was  wounded,  captured  and  kept  prisoner  near  this  spot  by  the  British 
during  the  Battle  of  Long  Island.  He  is  represented  standing  by  his 
horse,  sword  in  hand. 


316 


NOTES 


NOTES 


318 


PART  FIVE 


BOROUGH  OF  RICHMOND  . 
EXCURSION  X.— ROUTES  53-6oa. 


EXCURSION   NO.   X.— HISTORIC  RICHMOND. 


By  George  W.  Nash,  M.  D. 

Compiled  from  the  "  Memorial  History  of  Staten  Island,"  by 
K.  Morris,  and  from  information  given  by  many  friends  on 
the  Island.    Thanks  are  due  to  William  T.  Davis, 
J.  H.  Innes  and  Edward  Hagaman 
Hall  for  valuable  suggestions 
and  criticisms. 

Copyright,   1908,  by  the  City  History  Club  of  New  York. 
Revised  1909  and  1912 


Additions,  1912,  by  C.  G.  Hine 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


LOWER 
NEW  YORK  BAY. 


R  ARITAN 
BAY. 


MAP  OF 
STATEN  ISLAND 
BOROUGH  OF  RICHMOND. 

Number*  indicate  Hoote*. 

Rait  Roods.   R.o^di. 


Plate  LXIII. 


322 


HISTORIC  RICHMOND. 


Bibliography, 

"Annals  of  Staten  Island,"  by  J.  J.  Cliite  (1877). 
"  History  of   Richmond   County,   New   York,"   edited   by   R.  M. 
Bayles  (1887). 

"  Historical  Sketches  of  Staten  Island,"  by  Ramond  Tysen. 
"  History  of  Staten  Island,"  by  1.  P.  Van  Pelt. 
"  Staten  Island  Magazine,"  Vol.  I,  Nos.  2  and  3,  August  and  Octo- 
ber, 1888. 

Proceedings  of  the  Natural  Science  Association  of  Staten  Island," 
Vols.  I-IX,  1883-1903  and  (under  the  Society's  new  name),  Pro- 
ceedings of  the  Staten  Island  Association  of  Arts  and  Sciences,"  Vol. 
I,  1906- 1907. 

"  Staten  Island  Names,"  by  William  T.  Davis,  containing  a  valu- 
able map  by  Charles  W.  Leng  and  "  Supplement  to  Staten  Island 
Names,"  by  William  T.  Davis,  both  published  by  the  Natural  Science 
Association,  New  Brighton,  Staten  Island,  N.  Y. 

"  Memorial  History  of  Staten  Island,"  by  Ira  K.  Morris,  2  Vols. 
1898  and  1900. 

The  History  and  Legends  of  Howard  Avenue  and  the  Serpentine 
Road,  Grymes  Hill;'  Staten  Island,"  by  C.  G.  Hine. 
The  *  refers  to  Addenda,  1912,  pp.  351-352. 


323 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


HISTORICAL  SKETCH  OF  STATEN  ISLAND. 

The  island  contains  about  49,280  acres;  the  greatest  length  is  a  little  over 
13^  miles  and  the  greatest  breadth  is  200  feet  over  7!  miles. 

The  Indian  name  was  "  Aquehonga  Man-ack-nong,"  meaning  the  place  of  the 
high,  sandy  banks;  in  some  old  documents  it  is  called  '*  Eghqua-hons,"  which 
has  the  same  meaning. 

Morris  quotes  Schoolcraft  as  giving  the  meaning  "  the  place  of  the  bad 
woods." 

Previous  to  the  coming  of  the  white  man,  the  island  was  occupied  by  the 
Raritans,  a  branch  of  the  Delawares,  under  tribute  to  the  Mohawks.  Traces 
of  the  shell  heaps  made  by  the  Indians  are  found  in  various  parts  of  the 
Island. 

With  the  coming  of  the  European,  the  history  of  Staten  Island  is  wrapped 
up  with  that  of  the  neighboring  territory. 

Verrazano  discovered  the  island  in  1524.  On  September  2,  1609,  Henry 
Hudson  anchored  in  the  Lower  Bay  and  first  saw  the  island,  which  was 
named  "Staaten  Eylandt  "  as  a  memorial  to  the  States  General  of  the  Nether- 
lands under  whose  direction  he  was  sailing. 

The  first  settlement  was  at  **  Oude  Dorp  "  (old  town)  early  in  the  period  of 
the  Dutch  colonization.  Among  the  first  ^  settlers  were  the  Rapaelje  family, 
who  were  connected  with  the  first  white  inhabitants  of  Long  Island. 

The  Indians  sold  the  island  repeatedly;  first  to  Michael  Pauw  in  1630,  the 
first  patroon,  who  called  his  grant  *'  Pavonia."  The  Indian  claim  was  finally 
extinguished  in  1670  by  Gov.  Lovelace.  In  1639,  David  Peterson  de  Vries, 
having  obtained  a  grant  from  Governor  Van  Twiller  in  1636,  introduced  some 
settlers.  In  1641,  Cornelis  Melyn  was  made  a  patroon  and  the  third  attempt 
to  settle  the  island  was  made  at  Oude  Dorp.  The  Indians  destroyed  this  village 
in  1641  and  again  in  1655,  after  which  it  was  never  rebuilt.  (But  see 
Note). 

In  i6c2  the  Waldenses  founded  a  village  at  Stony  Brook  which  lasted  until 
the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century,  when  it  crumbled  away.  The  latter  part 
of  the  seventeenth  century  saw  the  Huguenots  settling  at  Marshland,  now 
Greenridge.  During  Kieft's  misrule,  the  island  suffered  with  the  adjoining 
territory   the   ravages   of   the  Indians. 

The  English  settled  on  the  island  in  Stuyvesant's  time  and  finally,  in  1664, 
it  came  with  other  Dutch  possessions  under  the  British  rule  of  Governor  Nicolls, 
his  first  act  being  the  capture  of  a  block  house  on  Staten  Island.  The  setting 
off  of  the  island  from  New  Jersey  was  due  partly  to  the  difficulty  of  collecting 
the  taxes;  the  Duke  of  York,  to  whom  his  brother,  the  King,  had  previously 
given  New  York,  on  this  account  decided  in  1668  that  all  islands  in  the  harbor 
that  could  be  circumnavigated  in  twenty-four  hours  should  belong  to  New 
York,  otherwise  .0  New  Jersev.  Captain  Billopp  successfully  accomplished  the 
feat  in  the  prescribed  time  and  the  island  was  adjudged  to  New  York.  A  tract 
of  land  was  awarded  to  him  and  he  established  the  Manor  of  Bentley,  at  what 
is  now  Tottenville.  New  Jersey  disputed  this  decision  and  the  question  was 
satisfactorily  settled  only  in  1833.  In  1673  the  island  was  retaken  by  the 
Dutch,  but  was  finally  restored  to  the  English  on  Februarv  9,  1674.  In  1679, 
the  Labadists  visited  the  island,  and  it  is  from  them  that  so  much  of  the 
everyday  life  of  the  colonists  is  known.  The  island  was  made  into  Richmond 
County  in  1683;  in  1688  it  was  divided  into  the  towns  of  Northfield,  Soulhfield, 
Westfield  and  Castlelon;  Middletown  was  established  in  i860.  Cucklestowne, 
cow  Richmond,  was  made  the  county  seat  in  1729. 

334 


Historical 


RICHMOND 


Sketch 


As  headquarters  of  the  British  during  the  Revolution,  the  island  was  under 
martial  law;  many  of  the  inhabitants  were  lukewarm  to  the  patriot  cause. 

General  Sir  William  Howe  brought  his  forces  here  July  3,  1776;  makine  his 
headquarters  at  New  Dorp.  His  brother,  Admiral  Lord  Howe,  commanded  the 
fleet  here.  The  British  erected  forts  at  various  places:  at  times  the  Americans 
attempted  to  oust  the  British,  and  on  their  part  the  British  made  excursions 
from  the  island  to  the  neighboring  country.  The  British  troops  vacated  the 
island  on  November  25,  1783,  when  many  of  the  American  Loyalists  moved 
to  various  parts  of  the  British  Empire. 

By  act  of  Legislature,  slavery  was  abolished  on  Tuly  4,  1825,  when  the 
fact  was  much  celebrated.  (See  No.  12.)  The  island  was  governed  by  about 
seventy  different  boards  until  1898,  when  it  became  the  Borough  of  .Rich- 
mond of  Greater  New  York.  It  now  feels  the  same  impulses  that  exist  in 
the  other  boroughs. 

Note:  Mr.  John  H.  Innes  thinks  that  Oude  Dorp  was  not  built  until 
1662-63  by  Stuyvesant,  on  the  order  of  the  West  India  Company  to  fortify 
points  on  either  side  of  the  Narrows.  In  1661  he  informea  the  Company 
that  all  the  houses  in  Staten  Island  had  been  destroyed  during  the  Indian  wars. 
Later  he  wrote  that  the  village  had  been  built  about  one-half  hour's  walk  from 
the  Narrows,  there  being  no  convenient  place  nearer  the  water.  It  was  visited  by 
the  Labadists  in  1679  (see  their  Journal  in  the  L.  I.  Soc.  Memoirs),  when 
there  were  seven  houses,  three  only  inhabited,  the  people  having  removed  on 
account  of  the  poor  soil  to  "  Niew'e  Dorp." 

He  doubts  that  the  Rapaelje  family  ever  settled  in  Staten  Island,  or  that 
Waldenses  founded  Stony  Brook,  there  being  no  documentary  proof  of  these 
statements  extant  (see  Nos.  62,  66,  77). 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


RICHMOND 


ROUTE  53. 

From  Manhattan  take  the  Staten  Island  Municipal  Ferry,  at  South 
Ferry,  to  St.  George. 

(Figures  refer  to  Plate  LXIV). 

SECTION  I.— ST.  GEORGE  TO  HOLLAND'S  HOOK. 

Walk  up  Jay  Street  to  South,  then  up  to 

1.  Public  Museum  (154  Stnyvesant  Place;  see  p.  402)  of  the  Staten 
Island  Association  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  containing,  among  other 
relics,  the  last  milestone  known  to  exist  on  the  island;  it  stood 
at  the  corner  of  Signs  Road  and  Richmond  Turnpike  on  the 
post  route  between  New  York  and  Philadelphia;  all  that  is  now 
to  be  made  out  is 

Miles 
to 

N.  YorkE. 

2.  Fort  Hill,  at  the  head  of  Fort  Place,  just  above  Sherman 
Avenue;  here  can  be  seen  a  masonry  cavern  used  formerly  as 
a  reservoir,  and  also  the  outlines  of  a  British  fort. 

IValk  back  to  Tompkins  Avenue;  go  north. 

3.  Castleton  Hotel;  burned  November,  1907,  occupying  the  site 
of  the  old  St.  jMarks  Hotel,  at  the  corner  of  Nicholas  Street  and  St. 
^larks   Place ;    St.   Marks   Hotel   was   constructed   out   of  the  old 

Marble  House,"  built  by  Gilbert  Thompson  as  a  private  house  and 
at  one  time  occupied  by  August  Belmont ;  the  large  building  opposite 
is  the  Curtis  High  School. 

Walk  down  Nicholas  Avenue  to  and  along  the  Terrace. 

4.  Pavilion  Hotel;  between  Church  Street  and  Westervelt 
Avenue,  now  a  tenement  house;  it  was  built  in  1828,  as  a  resi- 
dence for  Thomas  E.  Davis,  and  later  became  a  hotel  for  wealthy 
Southerners. 

5.  Hessians  Springs;  north  on  Jersey  Street  and  parallel  to 
it,  off  the  Terrace;  now  utilized  by  the  Hessian  Springs  Ice 
Company.  It  was  once  the  most  noted  resort  near  New  York, 
and  was  so  called  from  the  Hessian  camp  located  here  during 
the  Revolution;  there  were  two  redoubts  here  Qn  thq  heights 
at  the  entrance  to  the  Kills. 

327  ^ 


Route  53.    Sailors*  HISTORICAL    GUIDE  Snug  Harbor 


Nearby,  on  the  shore,  Gilbert  Thompson,  son-in-law  of  Governor  Tompkins, 
built  a  schooner,  in  which  he  conveyed  his  family  to  Mexico;  later  it  was 
used  to  bring  Santa  Anna,  after  the  Mexican  War,  to  Staten  Island,  where  he 
lived  in  the  DuBois  House;  see  19. 

Not  far  away  was  the  site  of  Belmont  Hall,  where  Isaacs'  department  store 
now  is,  between  Westervelt  Avenue  and  Jersey  Street.  It  was  built  in  1832 
as  a  private  residence  and  was  used  for  many  years  by  Major  Duff,  a  West 
Pointer,  as  a  military  academy.  The  major  became  colonel  of  a  New  York 
regiment  in  the  Mexican  War  and  died  in  Mexico. 

6.  John  Drake  Sloat  lived  where  the  Muralo  office  now  stands,  between  York 
and  Franklin  Avenues:  the  house  was  destroyed  by  fire  and  was  one  of  the 
oldest  residences  in  New  Brighton. 

7.  The  Cement  House  or  Ward  House,  at  the  corner  of 
Franklin  Avenue,  is  nearly  a  century  old;  it  is  so  called  from 
being  the  first  house  built  of  cement  blocks.  It  was  the  prop- 
erty of  George  A.  Ward,  who  is  said  to  have  closely  resembled 
George  Washington. 

Continue  on  the  Terrace, 

8.  The  Neville  House  or  Stone  Jug,  at  the  corner  of  Tysen 
Street,  now  a  hotel.  It  was  built  about  1770  and  later  became 
the  residence  of  Captain  John  Neville,  U.  S.  N. 

9.  Sailors'  Snug  Harbor,  an  institution  for  old  and  disabled 
seamen.  It  was  planned  by  Captain  Thos.  Randall  and  founded 
by  his  son,  Robert  Richard  Randall,  who  bequeathed  his  prop- 
erty, the  Minto  farm,  just  south  of  Union  Square,  Manhattan, 
for  this  purpose.  Alexander  Hamilton  and  Daniel  D.  Tompkins 
prepared  the  will,  and  Gov.  DeWitt  Clinton  aided  in  securing 
the  charter.  Though  founded  in  1801,  on  account  of  litigation, 
the  corner-stone  of  the  institution  was  not  laid  until  1831  and  the 
first  buildings  were  opened  in  1833.  The  annual  income  from 
the  rents  of  the  Manhattan  property  yields  about  $400,000. 
There  are  accommodations  for  about  1200  inmates,  all  of  whom 
must  have  served  five  years  under  the  American  flag.*i 

Continue  on  the  Terrace  to  Davis  Avenue. 

10.  The  Kreuzer-Pelton  House  at  the  Cove.  It  was  built  by 
Rolph  in  1722  and  later  came  into  the  hands  of  the  Kreuzers. 
It  was  the  headquarters  during  the  Revolution  of  Gen.  Cort- 
land Skinner,  commandant  of  Skinner's  American  Loyalists,*' 
and,  for  a  time,  Prince  William,  who  later  became  King  Wil- 
liam IV,  was  entertained  here  by  General  Skinner.  Here  Cruzer, 
Barnum's  lightning  calculator,  was  born.  It  was  bought  by 
Daniel  Pelton  in  1839,  and  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Gen.  Duffie,  still 
lives  here.*2 

328 


Richmond  Terrace  RICHMOND  53  Route 

On  September  9,  1609,  Henry  Hudson  sent  out  a  small  boat  from  his  shif), 
the  Half  Moon,  then  in  the  Narrows,  to  explore  the  Kills;  when  opposite  the 
Cove,  at  West  New  Brighton,  they  were  attacked  by  the  Indians  from  the 
shore,  and  an  English  sailor  named  Coleman,  who  was  in  command  of  the 
boat,  was  killed  by  an  arrow;  his  remains  were  taken  to  Sandy  Hook  (some 
say  Coney  Island)   and  buried,  the  place  being  still  called  **  Coleman's  Point." 

Go  up  Bard  Avenue  to  Henderson  Avenue,  at  the  northwest  corner 

of  which  see 

11.  The  house  where  George  William  Curtis  lived. 

Return  to  Richmond  Terrace. 

12.  Swan  Hotel,  a  shingle-sided  building  opposite  the  Post 
Office.  It  stood  originally  on  the  adjoining  ground  and  was  the 
political  center  of  Staten  Island;  here,  in  1825,  the  recently  freed 
slaves  of  New  Jersey,  Staten  Island  and  Long  Island  celebrated 
their  emancipation. 

13.  Fountain  House  site,  between  Van  and  Water  Streets,  now  occupied  by  a 
store  near  the  Church  of  the  Ascension.  The  house,  built  in  1750,  was  the 
headquarters  of  the  British  officers  attached  to  the  fort,  which  stood  where 
the  church  is  located;  it  was  burned,  as  a  war  measure,  by  order  of  General 
Sullivan.  It  was  the  scene  of  the  first  public  ball  on  Staten  Island;  the 
phrase  '*  fiddler's  change  "  originated  here,  as  it  was  customary  to  take  up  a 
collection  for  the  musicians  after  each  dance.  It  was  also  the  local  political 
headquarters.  When  the  house  was  torn  down  in  1895  a  painting  by  Milburn 
the  artist,  who  stopped  here  in   1840,  was  discovered. 

Walk  to  the  Square  hounded  by  the  Terrace,  Dongan,  Bodine  and 
Cedar  Streets. 

14.  Dongan  House  site,  owned  by  the  English  Governor,  Thomas  Dongan 
(1682-1688),  who  in  1687  "purchased  a  manor  house  and  some  25,000  acres 
of  ground  "  on  Staten  Island,  which  he  formed  into  the  "  Lordship  and  Manor 
of  Casseltowne."  The  house  was  his  hunting  lodge.  Here  he  lived  until  1691, 
when  he  fled  to  England  during  the  Leisler  troubles.  The  estate  went  to  his 
nephews,  one  of  whom,  'Walter,  succeeded  to  the  title;  finally  it  went  out  of  the 
family  into  other  hands,  among  them  Judge  Ogden  Edwards.  At  the  time  of 
its  destruction  by  fire,  Christmas,  1878,  it  was  owned  by  J.  H.  Williamson. 

Indian  remains  have  been  found  nearby  in  the  sand  bank,  and  at  the  foot 
of  the  embankment  was  a  famous  spring,  a  meeting  place  for  Indian  harvest 
festivals  and  treaty  making. 

15.  The  DeGroot  House,  of  Dutch  architecture,  at  the  corner 
of  Columbia  Street.  DeGroot  is  the  Dutch  for  LeGrand,  the 
name  of  the  original  French  family. 

Side  trip  along  Columbia  Street, 

16.  The  Scott-Edwards  House,  at  the  northwest  corner  of  Co- 
lumbia and  Prospects  Streets,  was  the  residence  of  Judge  Ed-  ^ 
wards,  the  first  Supreme  Court  Justice  to  reside  on  Staten  Island 
under  the  Republic;  he  was  the  grandson  of  Jonathan  Edwards 

I    and  a  cousin  of  Aaron  Burr. 

17.  The  Tyler  House,  Clove  Road,  here  a  continuation  of 
Columbia  Street   and  Broadway;  it  was  owned  by  Mrs.  Juliana 

i  Gardiner,  mother  of  President  Tyler's  wife,  later  by  Mrs.  Tyler. 
It  was  bought  in  1878  by  Hon.  W.  M.  Evarts  and  later  occupied 
by  the  Russian  Consul-General.    The  park  has  been  cut  up  by 

I  speculators. 

I  329  " 


Route  53 


HISTORICAL    GUIDE       Port  Richmond 


Continue  on  the  Clove  Road. 

18.  Oldest  Corsen  House  on  the  island,  a  few  rods  north  of 
Richmond  Turnpike.    It  was  built  about  1690. 

Britton  Mill,  near  Clove  Lake,  was  the  scene  of  local  romances. 
Return  on  Clove  Road  to  Cherry  Lane,  then  south  on  Manor  Road. 

19.  The  Dubois  House,  on  the  northwest  corner;  General 
Santa  Anna  lived  here  (see  5). 

Go  west  on  Cherry  Lane  to 

20.  The  Decker  House,  on  Barrett  Street,  just  off  Cherry 
Lane;  the  Decker  family  descended  from  Johannes  de  Decker, 
who  arrived  in  1655. 

Walk  north  on  Decker  Avenue  and  continuing  streets  to  the  Terrace 
at  Port  Richmond. 

21.  Danner's  Hotel,  the  old  Port  Richmond  Hotel,  also  called 
the  St.  James  Hotel,  near  the  corner  of  Richmond  Avenue.  It 
stands  on  the  site  of  the  Revolutionary  Fort  Decker  and  was 
built  soon  after  the  war,  as  a  private  residence;  it  became  a 
hotel  in  1820  and  was  then  the  largest  hotel  in  the  county.  Aaron 
Burr  was  a  guest  of  the  Winant  family  and  died  here  in  Sep- 
tember, 1836.  1854-1856  it  was  the  headquarters  of  the  Know- 
Nothing  or  American  Party.  Its  name  has  been  changed  many 
times,  and  the  building  itself  is  materially  altered  from  the 
original  form. 

There  was  another  fort  west  of  this  locality. 

22.  Van  Pelt  Academy,  behind  the  Post  Office  at  Port  Rich- 
mond on  the  Terrace  just  west  of  Richmond  Avenue,  was  once 
a  famous  school  under  the  management  of  Dr.  P.  I.  Van  Pelt, 
minister  of  the  Reformed  Church;  it  is  now  a  furniture  shop. 

23.  Dutch  Reformed  Church,  a  short  distance  up  Richmond 
Avenue  from  the  Terrace,  opposite  Church  Street;  it  is  on  the 
site  of  the  church  burned  during  the  Revolution;  the  Sunday 
School  is  said  to  be  the  oldest  in  the  United  States.  See  tablet 
over  the  front  door. 

Go  up  Richmond  Avenue,  nearly  opposite  Harrison  Street;  see 

24.  The  Jacques  House,  now  Progress  Hall;  also  called  Har- 
rison House.  It  was  built  by  Isaac  Jacques,  a  New  York  mer- 
chant and  a  descendant  of  the  French  Count  Jacques,  who  came 
to  this  country  toward  the  end  of  the  17th  century.  The  willows 
came  from  St.  Helena,  the  boxwood  from  Mt.  Vernon  and  the 
fence  from  the  residence  of  Mr.  Jacques  in  Whitehall  Street  in 
Manhattan. 

330 


Holland's  Hook  RICHMOND  53  Route 

Walk  along  the  Terrace  to  the  Linseed  Oil  Mills. 

25.  The   Housman  House  site,   southwest  corner  John   Street.     The  original 
Hoasman  came  to  America  in   1675  or  1676. 

26.  The  Lake-Croak  House,  between  Bay  and  Simonson  Streets. 
The  land  on  which  it  stands  was  part  of  a  lot  granted  by  Sir 
Edmund  Andros  to  John  Lee,  December  16,  1680. 

27.  The  Post  House,  on  the  Terrace,  in  the  grounds  of  the 
MilHken  Iron  Works,  was  erected  in  1691. 

28.  The  DeHart  House,  next  the  car  barn,  a  short  distance  - 
east  of  Holland  Avenue.    This  house  is  over  150  years  old  and 
was  once  a  school. 

There  is  an  Indian  graveyard  on  Holland's  Hook,  and  on  the  heights  at 
the  approach  to  the  ferry  were  two  British  forts. 

Go  south  on  Western  Avenue,  under  the  R.  R.  bridge,  to  Old  Place. 

Old  Place  was  at  one  time  called  Tunissen's  Neck.  Morris  says  the  name 
originated  in  the  following  manner:  Religious  services  were  held  in  such  a 
dilapidated  building  that  a  new  place  of  worship  was  selected.  This  was  so 
inconvenient  that  the  early  building  was  repaired  and  worship  resumed  at  the 
*'  Old  Place."  One  section  of  Old  Place  was  called  Skunkville." 

See  two  or  three  old  houses  on  the  right,   on  the  old   Daniel  Jones  place. 

29.  Old  Place  Mill,  a  little  east,  on  Washington  Avenue;  some  of  the 
foundations  are  still  to  be  seen  on  the  edge  of  the  creek  on  the  right  side  of  the 
road. 

Go  east  on  Washington  Avenue  past  the  school-house,  and  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  avenue,  near  South  Avenue,  see  the 

30.  Van  Pelt-Decker  House;  the  house  stands  a  little  back 
from  Washingtori  Avenue.  Tradition  says  that  the  American 
forces,  on  one  of  their  raids  from  New  Jersey,  found  Van  Pelt 
in  bed;  he  was  summarily  pulled  out  of  bed  and  forced  to  accom- 
pany the  troops  into  New  Jersey,  where  he  fought  with  the 
patriot  army:  the  next  day  his  wife  succeeded  m  getting  clothes 
to  him.    Later  his  wife  kept  a  tavern  for  soldiers  of  both  armies. 

Some  distance  farther  east,  opposite  Harbor  Street,  stood  until  1904  the 
Van  Pelt  Cottage,  over  200  years  old. 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


332 


RICHMOND 


ROUTE  54. 

SECTION  IL— ST.  GEORGE  TO  NEW  SPRINGVILLE. 

(Figures  refer  to  Plate  LXV). 

Take  the  trolley  at  St.  George  for  Elizabeth  Ferry  and  change  to 
Bull's  Head  car  at  Port  Richmond,  passing 

31.  Butler's  Hotel  Site,  near  the  head  of  Washington  Avenue;  this  was  a 
favorite  resort  of  the  sporting  fraternity;  during  the  Revolution  it  was  oc- 
cupied by  British  officers  as  headquarters;  burned  in  1892. 

Get  off  the  car  at  Vedder  Avenue,  'walk  east  to  Willow  Brook  Road 
and  then  South  to  Watchogue  Road. 

32.  Pero-Christopher  House,  at  northwest  corner;  across  the 
road  see 

33.  Mersereau  House,  where  Col.  Joshua  Mersereau  lived  and 
from  which  he  had  a  hairbreadth  escape  during  the  Revolution; 
the  British  commander  had  put  a  price  on  his  head.  • 

Southeast  from  Watchogue  Road  and  JJUlon'  Brook  Avenue, 

34.  Site  of  the  Vreeland  House,  recently  destroyed. 

Walk  east  on  Watchogue  Road  to  Prohibition  Park.'^S 

35.  The  Corsen-Ives  House,  at  the  corner  of  St.  John  Street. 
Ives  was  at  one  t;me  the  bicycle  champion  of  the  United  States. 

36.  Bodine's  Inn  site,  at  Castleton  Corners;  it  was  built  by  David  Jacques 
before  the  Revolution;  was  made  a  hotel  later  and  became  the  home  of  the 
actor  Keene  during  his  last  days. 

Walk  south  on  the  Willozj  Brook  Road  to  Willonf  Brook;  among  the 
willows  back  of  the  ice-house,  see 

37.  The  Christopher  Homestead,  where  the  Committee  of 
Safety  met  during  the  Revolution;  it  was  reached  by  secret  paths 
through  the  swamps;  many  Americans  were  captured  while  try- 
ing to  reach  it. 

U^alk  back  to  Richmond  Turnpike,  then  west  to  Richmond  or  Old 

Stone  Road. 

38.  Bull's  Head  Tavern  site  at  the  corner;  it  was  built  in  1741,  and  was  a 
Tory   headquarters  and   the   scene   of   many   outrages;    burned  i890.*4 

Continue  south  to  New  Springville. 

Long  Neck,  now  known  as  New  Springville,  was  the  fourth 

oldest  settlement  on  Staten  Island. 

39.  School  House  site,  where  the  present  building  stands;  the  original  school 
was  built  in  the  17th  century;  the  old  stone  was  used  in  the  present  building. 

333  ^ 


Route  54  HISTORICAL    GUIDE      New  Springville 

Walk  south  to  Rockland  Avenue,  then  east  to 

40.  Corsen  House  site;  the  Corsen  family  is  one  of  the  oldest  on  the  island; 
the  earliest  mention  of  the  name  is  in  1680.  There  are  some  fine  family  relics 
in  the  house,  which  stands  on  the  old  site.*5 

Get  information  here  as  to  route  to  the  wolf  pit. 

41.  Wolf  Pit,  reached  by  a  pleasant  trip  through  the  woods 
to  the  north,  or  may  be  visited  from  37.  The  pit  was  built  many 
years  ago  by  Captain  Jones,  who  owned  the  surrounding  woods. 
It  was  covered  with  brush  and  leaves  and  was  baited  with  a 
piece  of  meat  hung  from  a  sapling  just  above  it;  the  wolf  would 
leap  to  this  and  fall  through  the  brush  into  the  hole. 

Go  back  to  the  village  and,  at  the  corner  of  Union  Street,  see 

42.  The  Old  Crocheron  House;  a  little  farther  west  is 

43.  The  later  Crocheron  House,  which  contains  some  fine  old 
furniture.  John  Crocheron,  the  founder  of  the  family  here,  was 
a  prominent  Huguenot;  to  escape  execution  in  France  he  hid  in 
a  hogshead  on  board  a  vessel  by  which  his  neighbors  were 
coming  to  America.    His  will  was  dated  December  13,  1695. 

Walk  along  Union  Street  to  Richmond  Turnpike,  then  toward  Travis- 

ville. 

44.  The  Ridgeway  House;  a  long,  low  building,  south  of  the 
road  in  the  field.  At  Linoleumville,  then  called  New  Blazing 
Star,  was  a  Revolutionary  fort.    House  destroyed  by  fire,  191 1. 

Return  to  New  Springville,  walk  south  on  Richmond  Road,  now 

Broadway. 

45.  Simonson  House  site;  built  about  1690  by  William,  the  son  of  Simon  La 
Blant,  who  escaped  from  France  during  the  Huguenot  persecution,  and  on 
his  arrival  here  was  known  as  Simonson;  he  was  the  ancestor  of  the  Simonson 
family  in  this  country.  The  old  house  was  of  stone  of  the  Dutch  style  of 
architecture,  and,  when  it  was  destroyed,  a  brick  building  took  its  place. 

Continue  on  Broadway. 

46.  The  Blake-Miller  House,  built  about  1668;  it  is  situated 
on  the  left,  a  short  distance,  from  Union.  Street. 

A  short  walk  brings  one  to  Karles  Neck. 

47.  The  Barne-Tysen  House,  stands  off  the  road  to  the  west; 
the  family  came  from  Holland  in  1660  and  received  a  grant  of 
land  from  Sir  Edmund  Andros  in  1677;  house  built  1680. 

Walk  back  to  Bull's  Head  and  take  the  trolley  home  or  follow  the 
Richmond  Hill  Road  to  Richmond,  where  the  car  may 
be  taken  for  St.  George, 

334 


RICHMOND 


ROUTE  55. 

SECTION  III— ST.  GEORGE  TO  ARROCHAR. 
(Figures  refer  to  Plate  LXVI.) 

Take  the  trolley  or  walk  along  the  streets  near  the  shore  through 
Tompkinsville  and  Stapleton. 

There  was  formerly  a  large  spring  near  the  south  end  of  the  R.  R.  tunnel, 
where  ships  obtained  water;  the  vicinity  was  called  from  this,  the  "  Watering 
Place." 

t 

48.  Old  Health  Officer's  Residence,  the  only  remains  of  the 
former  Quarantine  property,  now  owned  by  the  American  Cotton 
Docks  Co.,  next  to  the  United  States  Light-House  Reservation. 
The  property  made  an  extensive  plant;  it  w^as  destroyed  in  1858 
by  the  summary  action  of  some  of  the  inhabitants.  For  some 
time,  the  people  of  Staten  Island  had  petitioned  for  a  change 
of  Quarantine  to  a  less  exposed  place.  Incensed  by  inaction, 
they  took  their  own  measures  and  burned  the  plant.  The  land- 
ing was  the  site  of  an  old  fort. 

Walk  along  Central  Avenue  to  Arietta  Street. 

49.  Quarantine  Ferry  Landing,  at  the  foot  of  Arietta  Street,  passing  the 
R,  R.  Station,  where  was  the  site  of  Nautilus  Hall  (built  1808):  this  hall  was 
a  popular  political  resOrt,  because  "out  of  the  way";  it  was  the  scene  of  re- 
ceptions to  Lafayette,  Garibaldi,  Van  Buren,  Tompkins,  Scott,  Seward  and 
others. 

At  the  corner  of  GriMn  and  Arietta  Streets,  see 

50.  The  Dutch  Reformed  Church  site.  The  church  was  built  18 18,  and  after 
many  years  used  as  a  shop;  it  was  demolished  in  1907,  to  make  way  for  a 
block  of  shops;  Governor  Tompkins  aided  in  its  erection. 

Just  above,  on  the  south  side  of  Sarah  Ann  Street,  near  the  Rich- 
mond Turnpike,  see 

51.  General  Van  Buren's  Home. 

Walk  along  GriMn  and  Bay  Streets, 

52.  The  Planters*  Hotel,  at  the  northwest  corner  of  Grant 
Street,   was    a   popular   resort   for   wealthy    Southern  planters. 

Go  up  Clinton  and  Church  Streets;  see 

53.  The  Pavilion  Hill,  known  as  Mt.  Tompkins  in  the  early 
days,  where  are  the  remains  of  two  Revolutionary  forts;  one 
may  get  a  fine  view  from  this  hill.  The  forts  were  rebuilt  during 
the  War  of  1812. 

335 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Garibaldi  House 


RICHMOND 


55  Route 


Continue  on  Bay  Street  nearly  to  Congress. 

54.  Commodore  Vanderbilt's  later  house. 

Farther  along,  at  the  N.  W.  corner  of  Union  Street,  see 

55.  Commodore  Vanderbilt's  earlier  home.  Mrs.  Vanderbilt, 
wife  of  the  Commodore,  died  here. 

Continue  on  Bay  Street. 

56.  United  States  Marine  Hospital.  Originally  a  State  hos- 
pital, erected  1834-1835,  it  was  maintained  by  a  State  tax,  which 
was  later  declared  unconstitutional,  on  seamen  entering  the 
Port  of  New  York.  Later  the  Marine  Society  of  New  York 
purchased  the  property  and  rented  it  to  the  United  States  Gov- 
ernment, in  1883,  as  a  Marine  Hospital.  Finally,  in  1903,  it  was 
purchased  by  the  United  States  Government.  It  contains  150 
beds. 

In  the  rear  is  a  building  called  the  Seaman's  Retreat,  over  100 
years  old.  This  was  the  original  hospital  building  established  by  the 
Marine  Society.  A  short  distance  to  the  west,  corner  of  Bay  Street 
and  Simonson  Avenue,  is  the  site  of  the  first  National  headquarters 
of  the  Republican  party,  where  General  Fremont  received  the  news  of 
his  defeat  in  1856. 

Walk  along  Bay  Street  to  Townsend  Avenue. 

57.  Townsend  Castle  site,  at  the  west  end  of  the  avenue;  three  brothers 
came  about  1661  and  founded  the  family;  the  house  was  burned  in  1885  to- 
gether with  a  number  of  fine  historical  paintings. 

Follow  New  York  Avenue  to  Chestnut  Street. 

58.  The  Garibaldi  House,  near  Bachman's  brewery,  at  the 
corner  of  Tompkins  Avenue;  it  is  marked  by  a  tablet  placed  on 
it  by  the  lovers  of  the  Italian  General,  who  lived  here  for  some 
time.  He  lived  with  Antonio  Meucci,  the  inventor  of  a  tele- 
phone system,  who  died  here  in  1889.  The  house  was  presented 
to  the  Italian  Government  by  Frederick  Bachman.  It  is  now 
protected  by  a  cement  superstructure. 

Walk  east  on  Chestnut  Avenue  to  Bay  Street,  then  south. 

59.  The  Austin  House  at  foot  of  Clifton  Avenue,  said  to  have 
been  erected  in  1710  by  a  Dutch  merchant;  it  is  well  preserved 
in  the  original  style  and  contains  many  relics  of  the  Revolution. 

60.  Quarantine  at  the  foot  of  Cliff  Street;  a  British  fort  was 
located  here. 


337 


Route  55 


HISTORICAL    GUIDE        Ft.  Wadsworth 


Continue  on  up  Bay  Street  and  New  York  Avenue  to 

61.  Forts  Wadsworth  and  Tompkins,  established  by  New  York 
State  during  the  War  of  1812.  In  1847  the  United  States  Gov- 
ernment bought  the  reservation,  demolished  the  old  forts  and 
built  the  present  works,  which  have  been  constantly  improved 
and  brought  up  to  date.  It  is  said  the  first  Dutch  immigrants 
stopped  here  and  a  block  house  was  erected  here  by  DeVries; 
this  was  several  times  destroyed  by  the  Indians. 

The  fort  was  rebuilt  by  the  English  in  1776.  The  last  shot 
of  the  Revolution  was  fired  at  this  fort  by  a  British  gunboat 
on  Evacuation  Day,  1783,  because  of  the  open  derision  expressed 
by  the  onlooking  Staten  Islanders.  It  is  hoped  to  mark  this 
fort  by  a  tablet.  Inside  the  reservation  was  the  old  Fountain 
House. 

62.  Arrochar  is  reached  from  the  fort  by  the  railroad  or  one  can  walk  there 
by  way  of  Richmond  Avenue.  Arrochar  Park  was  once  known  as  Oude  Dorp 
(Old  Town)  and  is  the  site  of  the  first  Dutch  settlement  on  Staten  Island, 
1641.  The  village  consisted  of  several  log  huts  and  was  destroyed  three  times 
by  the  Indians.    (But  see  No^e,  p.  325,) 

63.  The   Vreeland  Homestead  at   South   Beach  was  recently  destroyed. 

Take  the  trolley  hack  to  St.  George. 


338 


RICHMOND 


ROUTE  56. 

SECTION  IV.— ST.  GEORGE  TO  NEW  DORP  AND 
RICHMOJSID. 

(Figures  refer  to  Plate  LXVII). 
Take  the  trolley  for  New  Dorp,  passing 

64.  Emerson  Hill  and  site  of  the  house  called  "  The  Snug- 
gery." It  is  in  Concord,  earlier  called  Dutch  Farms,  on  the 
west  side  of  the  road,  just  beyond  the  Clove  Road,  where  the 
trolley  from  the  North  Shore  connects  with  this  line.  The 
present  house  was  built  by  William  Emerson,  Judge  of  Rich- 
mond County,  1841-1843,  not  far  from  his  original  house,  "The 
Snuggery."  Ralph  Waldo  Emerson  spent  some  time  here;  Henry 
D.  Thoreau  was  a  teacher  in  the  family.  *6 

65.  The  Clinch  Homestead,  near  Spring  Street,  Concord,  op- 
posite the  hotel,  was  built  about  1700,  and  was  the  early  home 
of  Mrs.  A.  T.  Stewart;  much  modernized,  upper  story  shingled. 
Further  on,  at  Garretson,  lately  called  Dongan  Hills,  on  the  east  side 

of  the  road,  see 

66.  The  Perrine  Homestead,  built  about  1668.  The  village 
was  named  for  John  C.  Garretson,  whose  two-century-old  man- 
sion here  has  lately  disappeared.  It  was  occupied  at  one  time 
during  the  Revolution  by  Capt.  Coghlan  of  the  British  Army.  . 
Opposite  is  Todt  or  Toad  Hill,  one  of  the  high  points  on  Staten 
Island. 

Todt  Hill  was  also  called  Iron  Hill,  this .  metal  .having  .been  extracted,  at 
times,  from  the  hill.  The  ravine  penetrating  the  hill  was  called  Valley  of  the 
Iron  Hill  and  Mersereau's  \'alley.  It  was  the  scene  of  the  rescue  of  a  young 
woman  from  a  British  officer,  by  her  lover  Mersereau. 

New  Dorp,  including  Elm  Tree  Light,  now  embraces  also  Stony  Brook;  here 
General  Moncton  rested  with  his  army  several  weeks  after  the  French  and 
Indian  war,  during  which  time  Sir  Jeffrey  Amherst  was  invested  with  the 
Order  of   the   Bath,   October   25,  1761. 

It  contained  an  important  military  post  during  the  Civil  War. 

The  trolley  car  passes  on  the  right 

67.  The  Moravian  Cemetery,  within  which  is  the  Old  Mo- 
ravian Church  and  Parsonage  (now  used  as  a  Sunday  School-/ 
room  and  the  cemetery  office);  the  original  plot  for  this;;ceme- 
tery  was  bought  on  June  9,  1763,  for  $124.08^,  being  part  of 
the  estate  of  Governor  Dongan  (see  No.  14);  the  Vanderbilt 
family  have  added  largely  to  the  church  property;  the  corner- 
stone of  the  old  church  was  laid  July  7,  1763;  in  the  cemetery 
are  many  graves  antedating  the  church.  See  the  Vanderbilt 
mausoleum. 

339 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Plate  LXVII.   Routes  56,  57,  58 


340 


Fountain  House 


RICHMOND 


56  Route 


68.  The  Aaron  Cortelyou  Homestead,  opposite  the  cemetery 
gate;  also  called  the  Lake  or  Gifford  House.  Because  of  a  burg- 
lary in  this  house,  a  negro  suffered  the  first  legal  execution  in 
the  county. 

77.  Stony  Brook;  the  original  Waldensian  settlement  in  1658  (Note,  p. 
325),  the  second  oldest  settlement  on  Staten  Island,  and  the  County  Seat  from 
1683  to  1827.  Here  were  Staten  Island's  first  Court  House  and  Jail,  1683; 
first  Church,  1670;  first  Whipping  Post  (witches  were  punished  here);  first 
market  or  trading  place;  first  marriage. 

The  Huguenots  settled  here  in  1658. 

The  old  Britton  House  was  here;  the  site  is  just  about  opposite  Tysen  Avenue, 
on  tlie  west  side  of  the  road;  it  was  built  between  1650  and  1660  and  de- 
molished in  1896,  being  one  of  the  oldest  structures  on  Staten  Island.  It  was 
used  as  a  court  house;  the  family  were  driven  out  during  the  Revolution,  and 
the  colonel  of  one  of  the  British  mounted  regiments  had  his  headquarters 
here;  it  was  also  used  as  a  small-pox  hospital.  In  early  days  it  was  the 
scene  of  an  Indian  massacre,  where  a  whole  family  was  killed. 

Continue  to  New  Dorp,  see 

78.  The  Black  Horse  Tavern,  at  the  corner  of  Amboy  Road 
and  Richmond  Road,  a  resort  of  British  officers  during  the  Revo- 
lution. 

Opposite,  at  the  head  of  New  Dorp  Lane,  is  the  site  of  the  Patten  House, 
built  in  1837  to  accommodate  the  crowds  who  came  to  see  the  New  Dorp 
races  along  the  Lane.  It  was  a  favorite  resort  of  the  Vanderbilts;  in  its  later 
days  it  was  used  as  a  Roman   Catholic   institution  and   finally   as  a  tenement. 

79.  The  Rose  and  Crown  House  stood  a  little  to  the  north  of  New  Dorp 
Lane  on  the  west  side  of  Richmond  Road;  it  was  built  by  early  Huguenot 
settlers,  and  was  the  birthplace  of  Bishop  Bedell;  while  the  headquarters  of  Sir 
Wm.  Howe,  here  he  and  his  brother.  Lord  Howe,  first  heard  the  reading  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence;  later  it  was  occupied  by  British  officers,  among 
them  General  Knyphausm,  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  Lord  Cornwallis  and  Sir  Guy 
Carleton.     It  was  torn  down  in  1854. 

80.  The  Fountain  House,  on  the  opposite  side  of  Richmond 
Road  and  just  above  the  Black  Horse  Tavern,  recently  remodeled; 
it  is  one  of  the  oldest  houses  remaining  on  Staten  Island.  Here 
Margaret  Moncrieffe  met  Captain  Coghlan;  here,  also,  Lieut. 
Sidney  A.  Simons,  U.  S.  N.,  was  born.  He  was  drowned  ofT 
Cape  Hatteras. 

Near  by  is  Camp  Hill,  a  British  gambling  resort  and  duelling 
ground.  During  the  occupation  of  the  island  by  the  British, 
many  officers  were  court-martialled  for  gambling  and  duelling. 


341 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 
ROUTE  57 

SIDE  TRIP  A.— TO  ELM  TREE  LIGHT 
(Figures  refer  to  Plate  LXVH) 
Leave  trolley  at  New  Dorp  Lane,  then  walk  east;  cross  the  R.  R. 
track,  passing  on  the  left 

69.  The  Parker  Clausen  House,  about  no  years  old;  has  some  inter- 
esting hardware.  Nearly  opposite,  see 

70.  Jacobsen-Vanderbilt  House,  built  by  Christian  Jacobsen ;  dur- 
ing the  Revolution,  British  soldiers  entered  the  house  and  fatally  shot 
him;  his  will  is  dated  January  10,  1782.  Later  the  house  was  owned 
by  Cornelius  Vanderbilt  and  his  son,  William  H.  Vanderbilt. 

Further  down  on  the  left,  see 
70a.  Vanderbilt  House,  now  owned  by  George  W.  Vanderbilt.  It 
was  given  to  W.  H.  Vanderbilt  by  his  father,  who  sent  him  here  to 
recover  his  health.  His  income  from  the  farm  at  one  time  was  over 
$12,000  a  year.  The  house  has  been  much  modernized  and  has  a  square 
tower.  It  has  been  moved  back  from  its  former  position  nearer  the 
lane.  Near  the  foot  of  the  lane,  see 

71.  The  Cubberly  House;  the  original  name  of  the  family  is 
Coverle ;  the  first  of  the  name  came  in  1769;  see  the  quaint  kitchen. 

At  the  extreme  end  of  the  lane,  see 

72.  Elm  Tree  Beacon,  the  landing  place  of  the  Huguenots,  1658 
There  was  a  chain  of  British  breastworks  near  the  shore;  the  old 
Track  House,  until  lately,  stood  on  the  Vanderbilt  farm  at  the  foot 
of  the  lane.  From  New  Dorp  Lane  turn  off  on  Mill  Road  to  the  east 
at  the  corner  of  Tysen  Lane,  see 

73.  The  Lake  Tysen  House,  situated  in  the  field  ;  the  Lake  family 
settled  on  the  island  in  1670,  coming  from  England.  The  house  has 
been  kept  i".  its  original  condition  by  the  descendants  of  the  builders. 

A^ear  by,  see 

73a.  Lake  Farm  House;  during  the  Revolution  it  was  occupied  by 
British  officers.    Continue  on  Mill  Lane  to  Guy  on  Avenue 

74.  Guyon-Clarke  House,  at  360  Guyon  Avenue.    It  is  an  early 
Huguenot  house,  where  was  organized  a  British  Masonic  Lodge ;  see 
the  old  clock  in  the  hall,  and  the  land  patent  signed  by  Sir  Edmun 
Andros. 

The  Club  House,  near  by,  was  frequented  by  the  most  prominent 
people  of  the  island.    Not  far  away  to  the  south,  on  the  Boulevard,  see 

75.  The  Cole  House;  the  family  came  to  America  in  1639,  by  way 
of  Holland,  where  the  name  was  changed  to  "Kool";  in  America  thi 
became  Cool,  then  Cole.   Nearly  opposite,  on  the  edge  of  the  marsh,  see 

76.  The  Lockman  House  Ruins;  the  lintel  piece  lately  disappeared;  it 
bore  the  inscription,  "May  22,  1782." 

342 


RICHMOND 


ROUTE  58. 

RICHMOND. 

(Figures  refer  to  Plates  LXVII  and  LXVIII). 

Take  trolley  to  Richmond,  passing  at  the  bend  of  the  road,  just  be- 
yond New  Dorp  village,  the  duelling  ground  of  the  British  officers. 

81.  The  Grote  House,  later  occupied  by  Dr.  Rotton,  just  be- 
yond the  corner  of  Egbertville  and  Rockland  Avenues;  it  is  over 
100  years  old  and  was  originally  the  home  of  Colonel  Richard 
Connor,  where  Aaron  Burr  made  his  last  call.  Above  the  ravine 
is  the  old  Egbertville  Academy. 

Richmond,  formerly  Cuckoldstowne  or  Cucklestowne,  became 
the  County  Seat  in  1729. 

At  the  end  of  the  trolley  line  turn  to  the  north. 

82,  St.  Andrews  Church,  one  of  the  four  churches  established 
(1708)  by  Queen  Anne;  the  church  has  still  part  of  the  silver 
service  given  by  her  to  the  church;  it  was  occupied  by  the  British 
as  a  hospital  and  was  the  center  of  two  Revolutionary  fights. 
The  original  building  was  built  in  1713.  See  memorial  tablet  to 
commemorate  Anne's  gift  in  1708  (unveiled  October  21,  1908). "^7 


i 


Plate  LXVIII.     Route  58. 
343 


C.  K. 


Route  58  HISTORICAL    GUIDE  Richmond 

On  the  hill  where  the  school  house  stands  were 

•  83.  The  Whipping  Post,  removed  1825,  and  the  Callows,  the  scene  of  the 
first  execution  in  the  county. 

84.  Later  Latourette  House,  made  of  brick;  see 

85.  The  older  Latourette  House  ruins — a  council  of  war  took  place  here  lead- 
ing to  the  battle  of  Springfield,  N.  J.  It  was  the  headquarters  of  Lt.-Col. 
Simcoe,  commanding  the  "  Queen's  Rangers."  The  Holmes  family,  ancestors 
of  Nancy  Hanks  and  Abraham  Lincoln,  once  lived  in  this  house.  The  earliest 
mention  of  the  Latourette  family  is  in  1726.  *8 

86.  Old  Mill. 

Return  to  the  Village  on  the  Mill  Road. 

87.  The  Barton  House  and  old  Cuckoldstowne  Inn  site,  corner  of  Rich- 
mond Road  and  Court  Street,  behind  the  County  Clerk's  office;  this  was  the 
headquarters  of  General  Cleveland,  chief  engineer  of  the  British  Army;  here  it 
was  that  Andre  wrote  his  will. 

87A.    County  Clerk's  Office. 

88.  Second  County  Court  House  site;  building  destroyed  by  the  British  in 
the  Revolution  (the  first  was  at  Stony  Brook) ;  the  site  was  occupied  for  many 
years  by  the  Richmond  County  Hall  and  since  1890  by  St.  Andrews  Parish 
House. 

88A.  Third  County  Court  House,  occupied  by  the  Board  of 
Supervisors,  October,  1794,  for  the  first  time.  In  i8c7  it  was  a 
dwelling  and  now  a  hotel. 

88B.  Fourth  County  Court  House,  on  Tysen  Street,  now  in 
use.    It  was  erected  in  1837.    See  old  graveyard  near  by. 

88C.  Second  County  Jail,  1727,  where  now  the  street  leads  to 
Richmond  Road.    The  first  jail  in  Stony  Brook. 

Nearly  opposite  was 

89.  Old  Dutch  Reformed  Church,  original  site;  built  1808. 

89A.  Site  Old  Dutch  Reformed  Church  (second  location,  foundation  may  still 
be  seen). 

There  were  three  Revolutionary  forts  in  Richmond,  all  on  the  hill  above 
St.  Andrews  Church:  one  about  300  yards  from  the  church,  one  still  standing 
about  a  third  of  a  mile  westj  and  another  on  the  hill  overlooking  the  meadows, 
where  the  Bedell  graveyard  is  located. 

Richmond  was  the  site  of  the  camp  of  the  Seventeenth  British  Dragoons, 
the  only  regular  British  cavalry  regiment  in  the  Revolution;  they  acted  as 
General  Clinton's  bodyguard. 


344 


RICHMOND 


ROUTE  59. 

SECTION  v.— ST.  GEORGE  TO  GREENRIDGE  AND 
GREAT  KILLS. 

(Figures  refer  to  Plate  LXIX). 

Take  the  trolley  at  St.  George  to  Richmond;  then  the  Fresh  Kills 
Road  to  Greenridge,  called  in  the  early  days  Marshland  and 
Fresh  Kills,  passing  on  the  right,  just  across  the  bridge, 

90.  Benham  Mansion  ruins;  the  house  was  built  by  Commander  T.  G.  Ben- 
ham  when  he  was  a  Lieutenant  in  the  Mexican  War;  it  was  burned  down  1897, 
It  was  also  the  home  of  Admiral  A.  E.  K.  Benham.  *9 

Pass  on  the  right  the  Cortelyou  House,  of  late  Dutch  architecture, 
to  the  road  leading  to  the  right  of  the  mill,  now  a  cement  block 
factory;  see  the  picturesque  ruins  of  the  millwheel  behind  the  build- 
ing. 

Pass  on  the  left 

91.  Bedell  House  site,  built  in  1670,  and  a  little  farther  on  the  site  of  the 
*'House  by  the  Mill,"  built  in  1685;  the  latter  house  was  a  military  storehouse 
during  the  Revolution;  near  was  a  British  fort  and  a  Dragoon  camp.  Two 
battles  were  fought  here.  The  Bedells  came  to  America  1673,  settling  on  Long 
Island,  and  on  Staten  Island  a  century  later,  1767;  see  mention  of  the  family 
in  the  county  records,  where  Silas  Bedell  rendered  a  bill  for  doctoring. 

92.  The  Seaman  House  site,  at  the  S.  E.  corner  of  Fresh  Kills  Road  and 
Eltingville  Road;  this  was  the  home  of  Benjamin  Seaman,  the  last  of  the 
Colonial  judges  in  Richmond  County;  he  went  to  New  Brunswick  after  the 
Revolution.     The  house  was  burned  in  1890. 

93.  The  Huguenot  Church  site,  near  where  the  present  barn  stands  on  the 
Seaman  estate;  it  was  built  between  1680  and  1695;  the  spot  is  to  be  marked 
with  a  stone;  in  tb«j  old  churchyard  were  buried  the  last  of  Staten  Island 
Indians  in  1826. 

Return  on  Fresh  Kills  Road  to  Giifords  Lane,  then  south. 

94.  Small  Stone  Building  on  the  west  side  of  the  lane,  a  few 
feet  from  Fresh  Kills  Road;  it  is  said  that  this  is  one  of  the 
houses  where  courts  were  held  years  ago. 

95.  Holy  Spring  House,  on  the  east  side  of  the  lane,  at 
the  corner  of  Dewey  Avenue,  in  the  hollow  by  a  big  tree.  The 
earliest  Roman  Catholic  services  on  this  part  of  the  island  were 
held  here.  The  house  gets  its  name  from  a  miraculous  spring 
in  the  basement. 

Continue  to  Giifords,  called  Great  Kills. 

96.  Old  School  House  site,  near  the  Post  Office  and  store  of  J.  W.  Hethering- 
ton,  where  may  be  seen  relics  of  the  Poillon  family  and  other  relics.  Go 
down  Hillside  Avenue  to  the  Boulevard,  where  are  situated  the  three  following 
Poillon    houses   built   about  1694: 

97.  The  Seguine  House,  a  few  feet  east  of  Hillside  Avenue. 

98.  The  Erastus  Wiman  House,  a  short  distance  west  of 
Hillside  Avenue.  Wiman  did  a  great  deal  to  awaken  Staten 
Island. 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Rossville 


RICHMOND 


59a  Route 


99.  The  Woods  of  Arden  House,  quite  a  distance  farther 
along,  near  Townsend  Avenue.  The  name  was  given  by  Wiman. 
The  Journeay  House  ruins  are  passed  on  the  way. 

There  was  an  Indian  burying-ground  in  Great  Kills. 

Seguine's  Point  was  the  scene  of  an  uprising  of  the  people 
in  1859,  on  account  of  the  establishment  of  quarantining  hos- 
pitals here.  The  buildings  were  burned,  as  were  those  at  Tomp- 
kinsville,  and  the  county  was  forced  to  pay  the  State  $110,000, 
which  sum  included  the  loss  of  the  buildings  at  Tompkinsville,. 
destroyed  in  1858.  • 

A  floating  hospital  for  yellow  fever  cases  was  located  here  in 
1859.  In  i860  Swinburne  Island  was  made  by  filling  in,  and  in 
1873  Hoffman  Island  was  made  in  a  similar  manner,  and  so  Se- 
guine's Point  was  freed  from  the  terror  of  contagious  diseases. 
Return  by  Townsend  Avenue  to  R.  R.  Stations  at  either  Eltingville 

or  Annadale. 


ROUTE  59a. 

SIDE  TRIP  TO  ROSSVILLE  AND  WOODROW. 

Follozv  Fresh  Kills  Road  to  Rossville;  previous  to  the  Revolution 
this  was  called     Smoking  Point "  and  during  the 
Revolution,     Blazing  Star." 

100.  Old  Mill,  where  Richmond  Creek  empties  into  Fresh 
Kills. 

10 1.  Oakley  House  site,  near  the  foot  of  Rossville  Avenue,  sometimes  called 
Shea's  Lane;  it  was  the  birthplace  of  James  A.  Bradley,  the  founder  of  Asbury 
Park;  Bishop  Asbury  was  entertained  here  soon  after  his  arrival  from  England, 
in   1 77 1.     It  was  a  tavern  before  the  Revolution. 

It  is  claimed  that  the  old  stone  house  that  stood  until  1850  on  the  farm 
of  Samuel  W.  Benedict,  near  Rossville,  was  built  by  David  Petersen  de  Vries, 
who  came  here  from  Holland  in  1636  and  established  a  bouwerie  on  Staten 
Island.  There  was  a  military  redoubt  at  Rossville  on  the  site  of  the  Decker 
House.  *io 

Walk  down  Rossville  Avenue  to  JVoodrozc  Road,  then  turn  east. 

102.  The  Winant  House,  used  by  Tory  marauders;  a  quantity^ 
of  silver  was  found  in  the  cellar  several  years  ago. 

Opposite  is  the  Methodist  Church,  on  the  site  of  the  first  M. 
E.  Church  on  Staten  Island,  about  1787. 

JValk  across  Huguenot  Lane  and  follow  Journeay  Avenue. 

T03.  Peter  Van  Pelt  House  site,  known  as  the  Nolan  House,  destroyed  in 
1904;  it  is  located  just  back  of  the  present  Nolan  House.  Bishop  Asbury 
preached  here  shortly  after  his  arrival  in  America. 

Return  to  Huguenot  Lane,  then  south  to  Huguenot  R.  R.  Station, 

347 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


RICHMOND 


ROUTE  60. 

SECTION  VI.— ST.   GEORGE   TO  TOTTENVILLE. 
(Figures  refer  to  Plate  LXX). 

Take  the  train  to  Tottenville,  passing  iJirough  Richmond  Valley. 

104.  The  Old  Tabernacle  Ruins,  built   1822  as  a  i)lace  for  Methodist  worship, 
at  Richmond  X'alley,  near  Railroad  Station. 

Tottenville  was   formerly  known   as   the   Manor   of  Bentley. 

105.  Union  House  site,  between  the  two  shipyards  on  Railroad  Avenue,  at 
the  foot  of  Tyrrell  Street.  It  was  built  in  1784  and  was  originally  the  John- 
son farmhouse;  it  was  in  the  parlor  of  this  house,  later  used  as  a  barroom, 
that  Commodore  Vanderbilt  married  his  cousin,   Sophia  Johnson. 

Walk  along  Broadway  to  Church  Street,  then  over  the  mill  dam. 

106.  The  Disoszi'ay-Mill  site,  over  100  years  old  at  the  time  of  its  de- 
struction; some  of  the  foundation  stones  can  yet  be  seen  at  the  end  of  the  dam 
to  the  left.  *i  I 

Return  to  the  village,  then  follow  Broadzcay,  Main  Street  and  Amboy 
Road  to  the  Lane  and  Bentley  Avenue. 

107.  The  Billopp  House,  built  about  1668  by  Christopher  Bil- 
lopp,  who,  in  1688,  aided  New  York's  claim  to  Staten  Island  by 
circumnavigating  the  island  in  his  own  vessel  in  less  than  24 
hours;  his  reward  was  the  grant  of  1163  acres  on  the  south  shore, 
which  he  named  for  his  vessel  "  Bentley  Manor."  His  grandson, 
Christopher,  was  a  loyalist  and  was  carried  off  for  ransom  by 
some  American  Rangers  and  kept  until  exchanged  for  an  Ameri- 
can prisoner.  He  was  again  taken  but  was  freed  by  Washington 
at  Howe's  request.  After  the  war  he  went  to  live  in  Nova 
Scotia. 

In  this  house  took  place  an  interview  between  Howe  and  an 
American  committee,  composed  of  Adams,  Franklin  and  Rut- 
ledge,  after  the  battle  of  Long  Island,  but  no  satisfactory  agree- 
ment was  reached.  There  have  been  several  attempts  to  get 
the  State  to  buy  and  preserve  the  house.  The  old  family  bury- 
ing-ground  has  disappeared,  but  two  old  gravestones  lean  against 
the  veranda.  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  Generals  Robertson  and  Kny- 
phausen  and  Major  Andre  visited  here.  Near  the  house  is  an  old 
Indian  burying-ground.  At  the  present  writing,  a  small  fee  / 
is  charged  for  admission.  (See  191 1  Report  Am.  Seen,  and  Hist.  Pres. 
Soc.) 

Continue  to  the  extreme  point  of  the  island. 

108.  Fort   ruins;   the   fort   was   started   by   the   War   Department   during  the 
Spanish-American  War;  blocks  of  concrete  can  be  seen, 

109.  Garretson  House  site;  the  boat-house  keeper  on  the  beach  will  show  the 
way  across  the  meadow  to  Belmont  Street;  then  walk  to  Manhattan  Street  to 
Arlington;  a  bungalow  is  now  on  the  site.  The  family  is  Dutch  and  came  here 
in  1660,  from  Holland,  bringing  with  them  a  certificate  of  good  character  and 
good  deportment  from  the  burgomaster  of  their  native  city.  There  was  a 
Revolutionary   fort  at  Kreisherville. 

349  ^ 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


ROUTE  6oa. 

SIDE  TRIP  TO  PRINCESS  BAY. 

Get  off  the  R.  R.  train  at  Princess  Bay  Station  and  walk  south  on 
Princess  Bay  Road. 

no.  Purdy's  Hotel,  on  the  shore;  it  is  nearly  200  years  old, 
but   well  preserved. 

A  short  walk  along  the  shore  brings  one  to 

111.  The  Androvette  House.    The  family  took  up  land  in  1699. 

112,  113.    The  sites  of  British  forts. 

Return  by  train  to  St,  George. 


350 


RICHMOND 


ADDENDA,  1912 

*i  (pi  328).  Near  the  main  entrance  to  the  grounds  is  a  bronze 
statue,  by  St.  Gaudens,  over  the  grave  of  R.  R.  Randall,  the  founder. 

*2  (p.  328).  The  original  Kreuzer  House  stood  a  little  further  back 
from  this  house,  on  the  hillside;  the  Kreuzer  burying  ground  was  just 
a  little  west  of  the  present  house.  The  present  house,  properly  called 
the  De  Groot-Pelton-Marriott  House,  was  probably  built  by  a  De  Groot ; 
Johannis  De  Groot  occupied  the  house  at  the  time  of  the  Revolution  and 
probably  built  the  middle  section  connecting  the  two  ends  of  the  house ; 
the  De  Groots  disposed  of  the  house  in  1814.  Since  then  it  has  been 
occupied  by  the  Pelton  family  and  lately  by  the  Marriott  family.  The 
stone  or  western  end  dates  about  1730;  the  middle  part  was  built  just 
before  the  Revolution,  while  the  brick  addition  is  less  than  100  years 
old.  Major  Andre  was  at  one  time  billetted  here;  he  proved  himself 
a  good  entertainer.  There  i?  a  pretty  romance  connected  with  the  vault 
behind  the  house. 

*3  (p.  333).  Housman  House,  built  about  1735,  on  the  north  side 
of  Watchogue  Road,  about  half  a  mile  from  Richmond  Turnpike.  It 
stands  on  the  east  bank  of  Stinking  Brook  and  is  but  little  altered. 
The  Housman  family  is  an  old  one  on  the  Island,  having  come  from 
Holland  in  1675.  Garrett  Housman  was  a  noted  Loyalist  during  the 
Revolution. 

Corsen  House,  at  the  junction  of  Richmond  Turnpike  and 
Watchogue  Road,  built  in  1776.  At  one  time  Lord  Howe  and  his  escort 
^rested  here  for  lunch ;  at  his  request  a  son  was  named  for  him, 
William  Howe  Corsen. 

Dongan  Distillery.  Tradition  identifies  this  as  the  building  now 
standing  on  the  northeast  corner  of  Richmond  Road  and  Manor 
Avenue,  to  the  east  of  36;  it  has  Jbeen  modernized,  due  to  necessary 
repairs.    Dongan  was  Governor  of  the  Province,  1683-88. 

*4  (p.  333)-  The  road  between  38-39  is  called  Signs  Road.  The 
name  carries  one  back  to  the  days  of  superstition  when  '^signs''  w^ere 
frequently  seen  here ;  one  sign  especially  common  was  a  black  dog  as 
large  as  a  horse,  that  came  out  at  night  from  near  by  in  the  woods, 
frightening  the  easily  scared  travelers. 

*5  (p-  334)-  This  was  a  Jones  house  originally,  coming  into  the 
Corsen  family  by  marriage. 

Directly  opposite  40  is  another  Jones  house,  on  south  side  of  the 

351 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


road.  Captain  Jones,  who  occupied  it  during  the  Revolution,  was  a 
very  prominent  Tory;  in  spite  of  this,  however,  his  family  suffered 
much  from  the  Hessians  who  were  quartered  on  his  farm.  The  western 
end  is  the  oldest  part.  The  house  is  still  occupied  by  a  descendant  of 
the  original  owners. 

*6  (p.  339)-  Site  of  the  Jiouse  of  Capt.  Jacob  Vanderbilt,  on 
Serpentine  Road,  near  Clove  Road.  It  was  burned  down  about  1901,  a 
lone  chimney  marking  the  site.  Capt.  Jacob  Vanderbilt,  brother  of 
Commodore  Vanderbilt,  was  born  in  1817  on  Staten  Island ;  in  1834 
he  married  a  daughter  of  Gen.  Israel  Putnam.  He  operated  a  ferry 
from  Whitehall  Street,  New  York,  to  the  Island. 

Grymes  Hill  gets  its  name  from  the  Grymes  family,  a  member  of 
which  built  the  house  still  standing  on  Serpentine  Road,  near  Eddy 
Street.    The  house  was  built  in  1836. 

*7  (p.  343)-  Three  tablets  were  erected  in  1908:  (i)  for  Queen 
Anne,  who  granted  the  charter  and  gave  153  acres  in  what  is  now 
Stapleton  for  the  support  of  the  church;  this  was  sold  for  $70,000; 
(2)  for  the  first  rector,  the  Rev.  E.  S.  MacKenzie ;  (3)  for  the  fourteen 
rectors  who  served  the  church  during  its  first  200  years  of  history. 

*8  (p.  344).  About  600  feet  southwest  of  85  are  the  remains  of  a 
British  fort  on  the  brow  of  a  steep  hill ;  these  are  the  only  visible 
remains  of  a  Revolutionary  fort  on  the  Island.  From  this  spot  may 
be  had  a  beautiful  and  extensive  view. 

*9  (P-  345)-  On  the  west  side  of  Fresh  Kills  Road,  opposite  Giffords 
Lane,  not  far  from  90,  is  an  old  frame  house  belonging  to  a  descendant 
of  Henry  Boehm,  a  noted  schoolmaster  of  many  years  ago.  During 
some  repairs  lately  made  a  secret  chamber  was  discovered,  built  in  as 
part  of  the  chimney,  and  reached  by  a  loose  board  in  the  floor. 

*io  (p.  347).  Between  Rossville  and  Kreischcrvillc,  on  the  shore 
by  the  glue  factory,  is  the  old  stone  Winant-Johnson  House,  of  Dutch 
architecture. 

*ii  (p.  349).  The  Disosway  House  is  a  little  north  of  106;  it  is  a 
stone  house  on  the  shore  road.  The  Disosway  family  was  among  the 
few  patriot  families  on  the  Island.  There  is  a  tradition  that  during 
the  Revolution  the  head  of  the  family  was  captured  by  the  British  ; 
his  wife  was  offered  her  husband's  freedom  if  she  would  persuade 
her  brother,  also  active  in  the  American  ranks,  to  cease  his  activity  or 
join  the  British.  She  is  said  to  have  spurned  the  offer  indignantly. 
The  family  came  from  France,  the  first  settler  in  1655.  The  mill,  106, 
belonged  to  this  family. 


352 


353 


354 


PART  SIX 


SPECIAL  ROUTES 

I.    ROUTES  FOR  CHILDREN. 
IL    WATER  ROUTES. 
III.    AUTOMOBILE  ROUTES. 


SPECIAL  ROUTES 


I.  ROUTES  FOR  CHILDREN. 
For  Museums,  etc.,  sec  Appendix  D, 

MANHATTAN. 

A.  Bowling  Green,  Fraunces  Tavern,  Willett  tablet,   Hanover  Sq., 

Wall  Street,  Sub  Treasury,  Trinity  Churchyard.    R.  i,  2,  3. 

B.  Custom  House,  Battery  Park,  views  of  Bay,  Aquarium.    R.  i,  4. 

C.  Governor's  Island.    R.  4. 

D.  City  Hall,  City  Hall  Park,  Post  Office,  St.  Paul's  Chapel  and 

Churchyard.    R.  5,  6. 

E.  Washington  Square,  Exempt  Firemen's  Rooms  in  Jefferson  Mar- 

ket.   R.  10. 

F.  St.  Mark's-in-the-Bowery,  pear  tree  tablet,  Cooper  Union  ^luseum. 

Also  by  arrangement,  .Middle  Church.    R.  11. 

G.  Bryant  Park,   N.  Y.  Public  Library   (Children's  Room)  ;  Fifth 

Avenue  bus  to  Central  Park.    R.  17. 

H.  American  Museum  of  Natural   History    (Indian   remains  found 

in  Manhattan). 

I.  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art  (historical  prints  and  objects). 
J.    The  New  York  Historical  Society. 

K.  McGown's  Pass,  remains  of  Fort  Clinton,  Block  House  No.  i. 
R.  21. 

L.    Block  House  No.  3,  Grant's  Tomb,  Columbia  University.    R.  19. 
M.    Washington's  Headquarters.    R.  23. 

N.  High  Bridge,  Death  Gap,  etc.,  Fort  Washington,  Fort  Washington 
Point.    R.  23,  24,  25. 

O.  Inwood  and  Cold  Spring:  particularly  suitable  for  an  all-day 
outing,  pure  water  at  the  spring.  Take  Broadway  Subway  to 
Two  Hundred  and  Seventh  Street  Station,  walk  west  to  the 
public  school,  north  to  the  old  Dyckman  House,  and  west  along 
the  trail  through  the  woods.    R.  28b. 


357 


Routes  for  HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Children 


THE  BRONX. 

A.  Van  Cortlandt  Park  and  Mansion.    R.  29. 

B.  New  York  University,  Hall  of  Fame,  Historical  Museum.    R.  30. 

C.  Tomb  of  Drake  and  houses  on  Hunt's  Point.    Lenox  Ave.  Subway- 
Express  to  Intervale  Ave.  Sta. ;  thence  via  Hunt's  Pt.  trolley.   R.  31. 

D.  Botanical  Garden,  Horticultural  Hall,  in  Bronx  Park.    R.  32. 

E.  Indian   Well,   Hemlock   Grove,    Lorillard   Mansion   Museum  in 

Bronx  Park.    R.  32. 

F.  Zoological  Gardens,  Rocking  Stone,  Bronx  River  in  Bronx  Park. 

R.  32. 

For  Routes  D,  E,  take  Lenox  Avenue  Subway  to  One  Hundred 
and  Forty-ninth  Street,  transfer  to  the  Third  Ave.  Elevated  R.  R. 
to  Bronx  Park. 

For  Route  F,  take  West  Farms  Subway  to  One  Hundred  and 
Eightieth  Street. 

G.  Glover's  Rock,  Macedonia  Hotel,  City  Island.    R.  34. 


BROOKLYN. 

A.  Bushwick  Dutch   Reformed  Church  and   Churchyard;  Cooper 

Park.    R  3Sc. 

B.  Williamsburg  Plaza  and  Bridge.    R.  35a. 

C.  Borough  Hall,  Beecher  Statue,  Long  Island  Historical  Society. 

R.  36. 

D.  Martyrs'  Tomb,  Fort  Green  Park;  Navy  Yard.    R.  37. 

E.  Prospect  Park  (best  seen  from  the  electric  omnibus,  25  cents). 

R.  38. 

F.  Children's  Museum    (Brooklyn  Institute),  Bedford  Park.  Par- 

ticularly valuable.    R.  38. 

G.  Fort  Hamilton.    R.  42. 


358 


Routes  for 


SPECIAL  ROUTES 


Children 


QUEENS. 

A.  Cross  Queensboro  Bridge,  car  to  Steinway,  walk  along  the  Old 

Bowery  Road  to  North  Beach.  Return  by  trolley  or  College 
Point  Ferry  to  Ninety-ninth  Street,  Manhattan.    R.  44. 

B.  Astoria  Ferry  from  East  Ninety-second   Street,  old  houses  in 

Astoria,  walk  along  the  Shore  Road  to  Steinway,  return  by 
trolley  to  Astoria  or  by  Queensboro  Bridge.    R.  45. 

C.  Elmhurst,  the  old  village  of  Newtown.    R.  49. 

D.  Quaker  Meeting  House,  Bowne  House  (admission  25  cents)  and 

other  old  houses  of  Flushing,    R.  51. 

E.  King  Mansion,  Jamaica.    R.  52. 


RICHMOND. 

A.  Municipal  Ferry  to  St.  George  to  see  the  Upper  Bay,  islands, 

light  houses,  old  forts  and  Statue  of  Liberty. 

B.  Borough  Hall  and  Museum  of  the  Staten  Island  Association  of 

Arts  and  Sciences.    R.  53. 

C.  Sailors'  Snug  Harbor  and  old  houses  near  by.    R.  53. 

D.  Forts  Wadsworth  and  Tompkins.    R.  55. 

E.  Billopp  House,  Tottenville.    R.  60. 

F.  Old  houses  in  New  Dorp.    R.  56. 

G.  Old  houses  in  Richmond.  R.  58. 


359 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


II.  WATER  ROUTES 

Many  interesting  trips  may  be  taken  by  ferries  and  excursion  steamers. 
A  few  only  are  suggested,  the  chief  historic  points  to  be  seen  en  route 
being  outlined.  For  definite  information  as  lO  rates  and  hours  of  sailing, 
consult  the  daily  papers,  for  routes  consult  Globe  and  Eagle  Almanacs 
or  Bullinger's  Guide. 

A.  Governor's  Island.    See  R.  4. 

B.  Liberty  Island.    See  R.  4. 

C.  Municipal  Ferry  to  St.  George,  Staten  Island.    Boats  leave  the 

Battery  at  intervals  of  twenty  to  thirty  minutes.  Views  of 
lower  Manhattan ;  Governor's,  Ellis  and  Liberty  Islands ;  South 
Brooklyn ;  Jersey  City  and  Bayonne. 

D.  Riverside  and  Fort  Lee  Ferry  to  Edgewater,  N.  L,  from  West 

One  Hundred  and  Thirtieth  Street  every  20  minutes.  Points 
named  in  Side  Trip  to  Fort  Lee,  R.  19. 

E.  Sight  Seeing  YacJiis  make  the  tour  of  Manhattan  twice  daily,  a 

lecturer  on  board  explaining  the  points  of  interest.  The  chief 
historic  buildings  and  localities  seen  en  route  are  described  in 
the  Guide  Book  as  follows : 

North  River :  Gansevoort  Market,  site  of  First  State  Prison  and 
old  houses  (R.  8:  i,  7,  8)  ;  Aquarium,  Battery  Park  and  islands 
(R.  4)  ;  Custom  House  and  Bowling  Green  (R.  i  :  4,  5). 

East  River:  Jeannette  Park  (R.  3:  33,  34),  Navy  Yard  and 
Martyrs'  Tomb  (R.  37:  9,  10);  Corlaer's  Hook  Park  (R.  13: 
28)  ;  Kip's  Bay,  Shot  Tower,  Smith  and  Schermerhorn  Houses, 
East  River  Island  and  Hell  Gate  (R.  20)  ;  Hallett's  Point  and 
Astoria  (R.  45)  ;  Horn's  Hook,  East  River  Park  and  Gracie 
House  (R.  20)  ;  sites  of  Bronck  and  Gouverneur  Morris  Houses 
(R.  31  :  49,  50). 

Harlem  River:  Macomb's  Dam  (Central)  Bridge  (R.  30:  25); 
Washington's  Headquarters,  High  Bridge  and  Fort  George 
(R.  23:  47,  50,  53);  Hall  of  Fame,  New  York  University  (R. 
30:  30)  ;  Inwood  and  Marble  Hill  ( R.  27  and  28). 

The  Ship  Canal:  Spuyten  Duyvil  (29  a);  Cold  Spring  and  the 
north  end  of  Man!iattan  (R.  28b:  93-95). 

Hudson  River:  Fort  Tryon  (R.  26);  Fort  Washington  and  Fort 
Washington  Point  (R.  24  and  25)  ;  Fort  Lee,  N.  J.  (R.  19 
Side  Trip)  ;  Clarcmont,  Grant's  Tomb,  Columbia  University 
360 


Water 


SPECIAL  ROUTES 


Routes 


(R.  19:  3,  7,  9);  Soldiers'  and  Sailors'  Monument  (R.  i(S :  5  ); 
DeWitt  Clinton  Park  (R.  18:  C).  JVritc  Sight  Seeing  Yachts 
for  itinerary^  hours,  etc. 

F.  Ferry  to  College  Point  from  East  Ninety-ninth  Street;  boats  leave 

Manhattan  hourly  in  summer  and  at  9,  11,  3  and  5  in  winter. 
(R.  33,  45,  44  and  51  E.) 

G.  U.  S.  Government  Boat  to  Forts  Schuyler  and  Totten,  IVillet's 

Point,  Fort  Slocum  and  David's  Island,  from  Pier  12,  East 
River,  foot  of  Wall  Street,  Tuesday,  Thursday,  Saturday  9  a.  m. 
A  party  of  not  more  than  fifteen  adults  may  secure  a  pass  in 
advance  from  the  Commandant,  Fort  Schuyler.    (R.  33.) 


361 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


III.  CARRIAGE  AND  AUTOMOBILE  ROUTES. 

MANHATTAN. 

The  Fifth  Avenue  and  the  Pennsylvania  motor  buses  give  good 
opportunities  (lo  cents)  to  see  central  and  upper  Manhattan.  As  routes 
are  subject  to  change,  it  is  impossible  here  to  name  consecutive  points 
of  historic  interest,  but  Excursion  No.  V  (p.  102)  will  aid  in  locating 
the  most  important. 

The  lines  of  Sight  Seeing  Coaches  and  Automobiles  have  various 
uptown  and  downtown  routes  and  a  lecturer  who  explains  points  of  in- 
terest, chiefly  modern.  Excursions  Nos.  I,  V  and  VII  cover  the 
chief  routes. 

THE  BRONX. 

(Prepared  by  P-andall  Comport,  1913) 

A.  EASTERN  BRONX. 

Figures  correspond  with  those  in  Excursion  No.  IX  (p.  179) 

Cross  the  Harlem  River  by  the  Willis  Avenue  Bridge  at  First  Avenue 
and  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-seventh  Street,  passing  at  the  Bronx 
end  the  sites  of  Jonas  Bronck's  homestead  (50),  and  the  Gouverneur 
and  Lewis  Morris  Mansions  (49).  Follow  Southern  Boulevard  to 
St.  Ann's  Avenue ;  turn  north  to  One  Hundred  and  Fortieth  Street, 
passing  St,  Ann's  Church  (48)  at  One  Hundred  and  Forty-ninth 
Street ;  turn  west  to  the  Southern  Boulevard  and  follow  it  north  to 
Hunt's  Point  Avenue.  Turn  here  to  the  right,  crossing  old  Lafayette 
Lane  (now  Avenue,  52)  and  going  as  far  as  Joseph  Rodman  Drake 
Park  (56).  The  old  Hunt  Mansion  (58)  is  at  the  extreme  end  of 
Hunt's  Point. 

Returning  to  the  Southern  Boulevard,  continue  north  to  Westchester 
Avenue;  follow  this  north  for  side  trip  to  Clason's  Point  (86);  take 
Clason's  Point  Road,  passing  on  the  right  St.  Peter  s  Rectory  and 
Church  99,  98)  in  old  Westchester  Village  (96)  ;  the  old  Causezvay 
(96)  was  near  Westchester  Square. 

To  visit  Port  Schuyler  and  other  points  on  Throgg's  Neck,  follow 

362 


Automobile 


SPECIAL  ROUTES 


Routes 


Fort  Schuyler  Road,  east  from  Westchester  Square  (seven  miles, 
round  trip;  89,  90,  91). 

Or  follow  Westchester  Avenue  north  from  Westchester  Square,  pass- 
ing Spy  Oak  and  Paul  House  (94,  95).  From  here  a  detour  may  be 
made  to  see  the  Ferris  Mansion  (92)  in  the  grounds  of  the  Westchester 
Country  Club. 

Side  Trip  to  City  Island  ;  from  the  end  of  Westchester  Avenue,  con- 
tinue north  on  the  Eastern  Boulevard  across  Pelham  Bridge  to  Bartow 
station.  Take  City  Island  Road  to  City  Island  to  see  Macedonia 
Hotel  (106)  and  other  points  on  Route  34  (six  miles  round  trip). 
Returning  to  Bartow  follow  Pelham  Bridge  Road  north  from  Bartow ; 
turn  to  left  at  Split  Rock  Road,  passing  Split  Rock  (113)  and  other 
points  in  Route  34. 

At  the  end  of  Route  34,  follow  Columbus  Avenue  (old  Boston  Post 
Road)  south  to  St.  Paul's  Churchy  Eastchesfer  (132)  and  the  Crawford 
Tavern;  continue  past  Halsey  House  and  Old  Point  Comfort  Inn  (130). 

To  see  the  Seton  Cave  and  Mansion  (128)  follow  Two  Hundred 
and  Thirty-third  Street. 

To  reach  New  Rochelle,  follow  the  Boston  Road  north. 
To  reach  Manhattan  follow  the  Boston  Road  South. 


WESTERN  BRONX. 

Cross  the  Harlem  River  by  Washington  Bridge  at  One  Hundred  and 
Eighty-first  Street  into  the  Bronx ;  turn  north  on  Aqueduct  Avenue, 
passing  on  the  left  the  Lewis  G.  Morris  Mansion  (29a)  ;  at  University 
Avenue  turn  left  to  visit  New  York  University  and  the  Hall  of  Fame, 
etc.  (30). 

Returning  follow  Aqueduct  Avenue  north  to  Kingsbridge  Road,  pass- 
ing the  Fordham  Manor  Reformed  Church  (32).  Turn  east  to  pass 
the  Poe  Cottage  and  Poe  Park  (69).  At  Fordham  Square  follow  Pel- 
ham Avenue  to  Bronx  Park ;  the  Zoological  Park  is  toward  the  south, 
the  entrance  for  automobiles  is  east  of  the  Southern  Boulevard  :  return 
to  Pelham  Avenue,  cross  the  Bronx  River ;  turn  to  the  left  at  the  sign 
board  through  the  Botanical  Garden,  passing  the  Lorillard  Mansion 
Museum  (77)  ;  continuing  north,  take  the  first  turn  to  the  west  past 
the  Botanical  Museum  (72)  and  follow  Mosholu  Parkway,  passing  the 
Isaac  Varian  Homestead  (36)  on  the  right;  enter  Van  Cortlandt  Park, 
descend  the  hill,  continue  northwest  under  the  railroad  tracks  to  visit 
the  Van  Cortlandt  Mansion  Museum  (4).    The  Van  Cortlandt  Vault 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


(ii)  is  on  the  hill  under  the  trees  to  the  north,  and  the  old  Hadley 
House  (15)  faces  the  Park  west  of  Broadway. 

At  Two  Hundred  and  Forty-second  Street,  follow  Spuyten  Duyvil 
Parkway  to  Spuyten  Duyvil,  passing  the  Cozvboy  Oak  (23)  Hudson 
Monument  and  the  Berrian  House  (24). 

Return  to  Broadway  or  follow  Riverdale  revenue  north  to  Valentine 
Lane  to  see  the  Washington  Chestnut  (17)  and  Valentine  House  (18). 

To  return  to  Manhattan,  follow  Riverdale  Avenue  or  Broadway, 
passing  the  Macomb  Mansion  (2)  at  Two  Hundred  and  Thirtieth 
Street;  see  to  the  west  old  King's  Bridge. 

BROOKLYN. 

Prospect  Park,  Flatbush  and  Flatlands. 

Follow  Routes  38,  39,  40  and  return  from  the  Magaw  Homestead 
via  Ocean  Avenue. 

Fort  Hamilton,  New  Utrecht  and  Prospect  Park. 

Shore  Road  through  Bay  Ridge  to  Fort  Hamilton,  then  follow 
Routes  42,  43  and  43a ;  return  via  Twenty-second  Avenue  and 
Ocean  Parkway  to  Prospect  Park  and  reverse  Route  38. 

QUEENS. 

Long  Island  City,  Woodside  and  Corona. 

Queensboro  Bridge  or  Thirty-fourth  Street  Ferry  to  Long  Island 
City;  follow  Borden  Avenue  to  Jackson  Avenue,  see  milestones, 
Riker,  Purdy  and  Lent  Farmhouses  (R.  47)  ;  turn  at  Thompson 
Avenue  into  Elmhurst  (R.  49). 

Astoria  to  North  Beach. 

Astoria  Ferry  and  follow  R.  45  to  the  Lawrence  burial  ground  (33)  ; 
continue  on  Winthrop  Avenue  or  the  Old  Bowery  Road  to  the 
Moore  House  (R.  44:  8)  and  follow  Route  44  to  North  Beach. 

Flushing  and  Jamaica. 

Astoria  Ferry,  Fulton  Street,  Eastern  Boulevard,  Franklin  Street, 
Flushing  Avenue  to  Flushing;  then  follow  Route  51  A;  from 
Flushing  take  Main  or  Jamaica  Avenue  to  Jamaica,  then  follow 
Route  52. 

RICHMOND. 

The  routes  in  Richmond  (53-60)  arc  best  covered  by  carriage,  al- 
though many  roads  are  suitable  for  automobiles. 

364 


365 


NOTES 


366 


NOTES 


367 


NOTES 


368 


APPENDICES 

A.  The  Milestones  and  the  Old  Post  Road. 

B.  Historical  Moiiuments,  Statues  and  Tablets. 

C.  Notable  Historic  Buildings. 

D.  Museums,  Libraries  and  Collections. 

E.  Historic  Trees,  Rocks  and  other  Objects. 


369 


p 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


POST  ROADS  AND  MILESTONES. 
By  George  W.  Nash,  M  D. 

The  associations  of  highways  and  milestones  is  so  intimate  that 
^  a  few  words  may  be  said  of  milestones  in  general.  These  stones, 
which  now  call  forth  a  merely  sentimental  interest,  were  considered 
by  our  forefathers  a  necessity.  In  1788  the  State  of  New  York 
passed  the  following:  ''As  milestones  are  a  great  public  convenience, 
removing  or  damaging  any  milestone  is  punishable  by  a  line  of  three 
pounds  for  such  damage,  part  to  go  to  the  informant,  part  to  be  ap- 
plied to  the  repair  of  the  damage,  and  a  third  part  to  be  paid  to  the 
overseers  of  the  town  in  which  the  offence  shall  be  committed."  If 
unable  to  pay  a  fine,  the  party  was  to  suffer  thirty  days'  imprison- 
ment. This  law  still  remains  in  effect  except  that  a  term  of  im- 
prisonment of  two  years  may  be  imposed. 

No  less  person  than  Benjamin  Franklin  selected  the  positions  for 
many  milestones  along  the  highways,  when  as  Postmaster  General, 
in  a  specially  contrived  wagon,  he  measured  off  the  miles  at  which 
the  stones  should  be  erected.  Some  of  these  so-called  Franklin 
^Milestones  are  still  standing,  one  of  them  being  on  the  ]\Iilford 
Road  in  Stratford,  Conn. 

The  first  two  or  three  milestones  in  Manhattan  are  of  white  stone, 
then  a  brown  stone  is  used  the  rest  of  the  way  up  the  river  until  Red 
Hook  is  reached,  when  again  a  white  stone  is  used.  While  mostly 
Arabic  numerals  are  used  in  milestone  inscriptions,  occasionally  we 
find  the  Roman  numbers,  as  on  the  XXIV  milestone  at  Scarsdale, 
N.  Y. 

In  early  days  the  people  of  New  Amsterdam  felt  the  need  of  com-  ^ 
munication  with  the  outer  world,  especially  with  their  neighbors  and 
[  kinspeople  at  Fort  Orange.  In  the  winter  when  the  rivet  was  frozen 
over,  it  was  a  comparatively  easy  matter  to  arrange  this  communica- 
tion, although  the  post  carrier's  task  was  anything  but  a  pleasant  one 
as  he  skirted  the  shores  of  the  wilderness  and  rounded  the  points 
.  through  the  gorges  against  the  cold  north  wind,  while  skating  his 
lonely  way  to  Albany,  with  Indians  often  lurking  along  the  route. 
Something  more  permanent  was  needed,  and  in   1669,  the  Albany 

371 


Milestones  HISTORICAL  GUIDE       and  Post  Roads 


Post  Road  was  established.  This  was  so  successful  that  three  years 
later  a  road  was  opened  from  New  York  to  Boston,  by  order  of 
Governor  Lovelace.  On  January  i,  1673,  a  mounted  post  was  in- 
stituted, among  the  multifarious  duties  being  the  carrying  of  the 
mails;  it  was  not  until  1772  that  a  stage  coach  appeared  carrying 
passengers  at  the  rate  of  four  pence  a  mile. 

At  that  time  the  City  Hall  was  on  Wall  Street,  at  the  corner  of 
Nassau,  where  now  stands  the  Sub-Treasury.  Broadway  up  to  St. 
Paul's  was  opened  mainly  to  reach  the  Post  Road  where  Park  Row 
now  begins,  any  further  development  of  the  street  being  undreamed 
of,  even  to  accommodate  the  outlying  farms  along  the  Hudson.  From 
the  site  of  the  Post  Office  the  Post  Road  ran  through  Park  Row,  up 
the  Bowery  and  Fourth  Avenue  to  Madison  Square  (Excursion  V, 
Section  H)  whence  it  turned  and  twisted  northward  over  toward  the 
East  River,  then  doubled  on  itself.  About  Eighty-sixth  Street  it  en- 
tered the  boundaries  of  the  present  Central  Park,  went  through  Mc- 
Gown's  Pass ;  thence  continued  more  or  less  steadily  to  the  northwest 
until  it  struck  the  lines  of  Broadway  and  Kingsbridge  Road,  when  it 
went  soberly  a]>ong  to  the  toll  bridge  over  Spuyten  Duyvil  Creek 
(Excursion  IV,  2).  After  getting  well  over  the  bridge,  the  road 
soon  separated  into  the  Albany  Post  Road,  following  Broadway 
through  Yonkers  and  up  the  river;  and  the  Boston  Post  Road,  going 
up  the  hill  to  the  right  across  to  Williamsbridge,  thence  across 
country  through  Eastchester  to  New  Rochelle,  and  beyond 
to  Boston.  So  long  ago  as  the  English  occupation,  the  people 
of  New  York,  feeling  crowded,  overflowed  into  Harlem,  whence 
the  Dutch  farmers  casting  their  eyes  across  the  Kills,  saw  a 
country  "  fair  to  look  upon."  Means  of  getting  across  were 
soon  considered  and  a  ferry  established  connecting  with  the  road  to 
Harlem  which  branched  off  from  the  Post  Road  at  Central  Park. 
(Excursion  IV,  Section  i).  This  ferry  was  at  about  Third  Avenue 
and  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-first  Street  and  a  bridge  was  built  in 
1795.  As  the  lower  Bronx  section  across  the  Kills  grew,  old  trails 
were  developed,  the  early  Westchester  Path  becoming  a  Post  Road, 
following  the  line  of  Third  Avenue  and  Boston  Road  to  Bronx  Park 
and  then  northeast,  until  it  joined  the  early  road  some  distance  above, 
thus  making  quite  a  cut-off  from  New  York  to  this  junction,  saving  the 
long  detour  around  Kingsbridge.  Lonely  as  the  road  was,  it  was 
not  without  interesting  features.  Hardly  had  the  traveler  left  the 
starting  point  when  he  arrived  at  the  first  Kissing  Bridge,  near  Chat- 
ham Square;  then  came  the  milestones  telling  slowly,  but  steadily,  the 

372 


Milestones 


POST  ROADS  and  Post  Roads 


progress  made,  and^  as  taverns  and  road  houses  were  always  con- 
venient, there  was  ever  a  place  for  rest  and  refreshment.  Among 
the  old  road  houses  may  be  mentioned  the  Bull's  Head  Tavern,  near 
the  first  milestone,  where  the  friends  of  the  traveler  who  had  ac- 
companied him  thus  far,  drank  to  his  health  and  safety  on  his  jour- 
ney to  the  wilderness  beyond. 

At  the  second  milestone,  where  Cooper  Union  now  stands,  was  the 
Bowery  Village  Church.  Cato's  Road  House  at  Fifty-second  Street 
was  a  noted  hostelry;  at  Seventy-second  Street  was  another  Kissing 
Bridge. 

That  part  of  the  road  near  McGown's  Pass  has  a  special  interest 
from  its  connection  with  the  march  of  the  British  before  the  Battle  of 
Harlem  Heights  and  the  presence  of  Forts  Clinton  and  Fish.  At  the 
bridge  across  Spuyten  Duyvil  Creek,  also  a  Kissing  Bridge,  there 
was  a  celebrated  tavern  well  described  by  Madame  Knight  where 
sleighing  parties  came  out  from  town  for  their  frolics.  Thence  the 
traveler  on  either  of  the  diverging .  Post  Roads  had  more  time  for 
the  enjoyment  of  the  scenery,  as  the  evidences  of  civilization  faded 
away  and  the  wilderness  opened  before  him  broken  only  occasionally 
by  village  or  hamlet. 

According  to  the  old  maps  there  was,  starting  from  the  City  Hall  in 
Wall  Street,  a  stone  for  every  mile  in  what  is  now  Manhattan  and 
the  Bronx.  With  the  erection  of  the  present  City  Hall  (1803-12)  . 
these  milestones  were  replaced  to  bring  them  in  conformity  with  the 
new  starting  point.'  This  accounts  for  the  apparent  discrepancies  in 
their  names.  Some  of  the  milestones  have  disappeared,  whilt  others 
have  had  a  varied  experience.  Some  of  the  stones  have  been  used 
by  bill  posters ;  one  was  rescued  from  a  police  station  and  now 
stands  in  good  surroundings  not  at  all  embarrassed  by  the  falsehood 
showing  on  its  face ;  another  was  removed  from  a  tottering  position 
in  a  neglected  section  of  the  road  and  now  occupies  a  place  safe 
from  destruction;  one  stone  that  stood  in  the  way  of  public  improve- 
ment was  apparently  improved  off  the  earth ;  another  reposes  in  a 
back  yard  uptown,  while  still  another  has  its  resting  place  in  a  cellar.  * 

Milestones  in  Manhattan. 

1.  Bowery,  opposite  Rivington  Street. 

2.  Third  Avenue,  between  Sixteenth  and  Seventeenth  Streets. 

4.  Third  Avenue  and  Fifty-seventh  Street. 

5.  Third  Avenue  and  Seventy-seventh  Street. 

7.    Third  Avenue  and  One  Hundred  and  Seventeenth  Street. 


373 


Milestones 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE         and  Post  Roads 


7.  Another  stone,  now  stored  at  107  West  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- 
second  Street.  (The  dupHcate  7  Milestone  was  probably  on  the 
eastern  Post  Road  after  it  branched  ofif  the  old  Post  Road  near 
Central  Park.) 

9.  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-second  Street,  between  Amsterdam  and 
St.  Nicholas  Avenues. 

10.  561  West  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-ninth  Street. 

11.  In  Roger  Morris  Park  (see  p.  159). 

12.  At  entrance  to  Isham  Park  (see  p.  175). 

Milestones  in  the  Bronx 
10.    One  Hundred  and  Sixty-eighth  Street  and  Boston  Road. 

13.  Boston  Road,  near  Pelham  Parkway  (this  stone  has  lately  dis- 

'appcared  and  may  be  in  the  vicinity). 
15.    Boston  Road,  near  Eastchester  (1911  placed  in  Bronx  Borough 
Hall). 

15.    Albany  Avenue,  near  Spuyten  Duyvil  Parkway  (see  p.  184). 

Milestones  in  Brooklyn 

At  Sheepshead  Bay,  corner  of  Neck  Road  and  Ryder's  Lane.  In- 
scription reads:  ''8  Miles  and  (    )  quarters  to  Brocl  land  Ferry." 

At  Van  Pelt  Manor,  New  Utrecht ;  has  two  inscriptions :  one  reads : 
**8^  mile  to  N.  York  Ferry  This  Road  To  Denys's  Ferry 
Mile."   The  other  reads,  "loVz  Mile  to  N.  York  Ferry  This  Road. 
To  Jamaica  15  Mile." 

At  King's  Highway,  within  fence  line,  left  side,  100  feet  from  Ocean 
Avenue.    Inscription :  "6  Mile  to  Ye  Ferry." 

Milestones  In  Queens.  (All  between  Long  Island  City  and  Flushing.) 
At  Jackson  Avenue,  near  Grinnell  Avenue :  "5  Miles  to  34th  Street 

Ferry,    i  Mile  to  Flushing  Bridge." 
At  Jackson,  near  Kelly  Avenue :  ''3  Miles  to  34th  Street  Ferry, 

3  Miles  to  Flushing  Bridge." 
At  Jackson,  near  Hulst  Avenue :  "2  Miles  to  34th  Street  Ferry,  4  Miles 

to  Flushing  Bridge." 

Milestone  in  Richmond. 
Formerly  at  corner  of  Signs  Road  and  Richmond  Turnpike,  now  at 
154  Stuyvesant  Place,  in  the  Museum  of  the  Staten  Island  Asso- 
ciation of  Arts  and  Sciences.    Inscription  reads:  "(    )  miles 
to  N.  Yorke." 


374 


MILESTONES. 


MILESTONES  IN  BLOOMINGDALE. 
By  Hopper  Striker  Mott. 

Little  attention,  if  any,  has  been  given  to  the  two  lines  of  mile- 
stones along  the  Bloomingdale  Road.  The  first  stone  was  about  op-» 
posite  the  present  Twenty-fourth  Street,  at  the  junction  of  the  Post 
Road.  This  advertisement  from  the  Columbian  of  June  6,  1815,  has 
been  found : 

"  A  stray  steer  was  found  on  the  premises  of  the  subscriber  on  the 
5th  of  August  last.  The  owner  may  have  the  said  steer  by  proving 
property  and  paying  all  reasonable  charges. 

"  Isaac  Varian  Jun. 
"  Bloomingdale — 3  mile  stone." 

This  also  fixes  the  Bloomingdale  name  as  extending  as  far  south 
as  Twenty-third  Street. 

The  fourth  stone  must  have  been  at  about  Forty-fourth  Street  and 
we  have  this  advertisement  from  the  Mercantile  Advertiser  of 
December  10,  1814,  confirming  the  location  there : 

To  let  for  one  or  more  years,  the  farm  at  Bloomingdale,  near  the 
four  mile  stone,  known  by  the  name  of  Eden's  Farm,  consisting  of 
about  22  acres  of  land,  on  which  are  two  dwelling  houses  and  2  farms 
and  to  which  may  be  added  2  pieces  of  pasture  land  of  about  10 
acres  each.    Apply  to 

John  Jacob  Astor,  cor.  Pine  and  Pearl  Streets." 

This  farm  was  owned  by  Medcef  Eden,  an  Englishman,  and  ex- 
tended as  far  south  as  Forty-first  Street.  It  was  acquired  by  Astor 
under  foreclosure  in  1803  for  $25,000.  So  much  for  the  distances 
from  Wall  Street. 

The  evidences  for  saying  that  there  was  a  second  series  marking 
the  distance  from  the  City  Hall  is  as  follows :  We  have  personally 
seen  a  stone  which  stood  on  the  Road  at  Fifty-fourth  Street,  during 
our  boyhood,  which  was  marked  "  Four  miles  from  N.  Y." 

In  John  Austin  Stevens'  notes  to  the  History  of  the  Chamber  of 
Commerce,  p.  314,  he  says:  ''The  five  mile  stone  stands  near  the 
corner  of  Seventy-fourth  Street  and  the  Bloomingdale  Road,  opposite 

375 


Milestones  HISTORICAL   GUIDE      in  Bloomingdale 

grounds  lately  owned  by  Pelatiah  Perit  (20tli  President  of  the 
Chamber)  and  the  6  mile  stone  near  Ninety-sixth  Street,  in  front  of 
the  property  of  Dr.  Williams." 

The  Evening  Post  announced  that  John  Moir  opened  the  Bloom- 
ingdale Academy  in  1815,  located  5  miles  from  the  city,  on  the  Bloom- 
ingdale Road.    This  was  at  Seventy-fourth  Street. 

Samuel  Beman,  A.  M.,  opened  a  boarding  school  for  small  boys  in 
1838  at  the  six  mile  stone,  situated  "  on  Dr.  Valentine  Motf  s  beauti- 
ful mansion  grounds."  The  house  stood  at  Ninety-fourth  Street. 
.  The  7  mile  stone  was  at  One  Hundred  and  Sixteenth  Street  and 
the  8  at  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-sixth  Street,  a  half  mile  south  of 
the  junction  of  the  Bloomingdale  and  Kingsbridge  Roads  at  One 
Hundred  and  Forty-seventh  Street. 


376 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


ADDENDA,  1912 
(From  a  theatre   programme  of  *'The  African  Company") 

THEATRE   in  Mercer  Street 
In  the  rear  of  the  i  Mile  Stone  Broadway 

The  African  Co.,  etc. 
Harper's  Magazine,  Junc-Nov.,  1889,  P-  I33 

As  historians  know  nothing  of  a  theatre  here,  this  was  probably  a 
company  of  negro  amateurs  who  played  in  New  York  in  1820-21.  Old 
residents  remember  a  milestone  in  front  of  old  St.  Thomas'  Church, 
Broadway  and  Houston  Street. 

In  tearing  down  an  old  residence  in  Greenwich  at  102  Christopher 
Street  in  1910  a  block  of  brown  stone  2^2  feet  long,  10  inches  wide  and 
9  inches  thick  was  discovered  (now  at  380  Bleecker  Street)  bearing  the 
inscription,  "9  Miles  from  Camp,"  and  at  the  bottom  some  unde- 
cipherable figures.  It  is  doubtful  whether  "Camp"  refers  to  a  camp  of 
Revolutionary  days  or  to  some  popular  roadhouse  in  upper  ?^Ianhattan. 

The  Board  of  Aldermen  has,  by  special  enactment,  transferred  to 
the  City  History  Club  the  care  and  maintenance  of  the  milestones* 
in  Manhattan,  and  the  Club  expects  to  receive  similar  jurisdiction  in 
the  other  boroughs. 

Through  a  "Milestone  Committee,"  the  15th  Milestone,  near  Van 
Cortlandt  Mansion  (p.  184),  has  been  firmly  reset  in  its  former  location, 
thus  saving  it  from  destruction,  and  the  nth  Milestone  of  Manhattan 
has  been  removed  to  Roger  Morris  Park  and  marked  by  a  tablet 
(p.  159)-  Plans  are  now  under  way  for  the  care  of  other  stones  in 
Manhattan  and  at  Van  Pelt  Manor,  New  Utrecht.  No.  9  Manhattan 
and  the  Richmond  stone  are  already  protected  (pp.  151,  327),  one  by 
private  means,  the  other  through  a  historical  society.  ^ 

The  City  History  Club  obtains  the  means  for  this  work  by  a  volun- 
tary tax  paid  by  children  enrolled  in  its  study  clubs. 

See  articles  in  the  Outlook  (June  24,  1909),  ''Along  the  Hudson  in 
Stage  Coach  Days";  Westchester  County  (N.  Y.)  Magazine^  "Some 
Westchester  County  Milestones"  and  "Some  Bronx  Milestones." 


37^^a 


NOTES. 


376b 


APPENDIX  B. 


HISTORICAL  MONUMENTS,  STATUES  AND  TABLETS. 

Monuments  and  Statues  in  Manhattan, 

N.  B.  Those  in  cemeteries  and  churchyards  and  within  buildings' 
are,  as  a  rule,  omitted.   See  Addenda,  pp.  389-390. 

Columbus  Colunm,  at  the  Circle,  Fifty-ninth  Street  and  Eighth 
Avenue;  has  reliefs  by  Gaetano  Russo;  presented  by  Italian  citizens 
of  the  city.    R.  17. 

Firemen* s  Monument,  Hudson  Park,  to  some  Volunteer  Firemen; 
erected  by  members  of  Eagle  Fire  Engine  Company,  No.  13.    R.  8. 

Grant's  Tomb,  Riverside  Drive,  near  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- 
second  Street;  erected  by  popular  subscription,  under  the  care  of  the 
Grant  Monument  Association.    R.  19. 

Martyrs'  Monument,  Trinity  Churchyard;  erected  by  the  Trinity 
Corporation  to  the  memory  of  American  patriots  who  died  in  British 
Revolutionary  prisons.    R.  2. 

Mural  Monument  to  Major-General  Richard  Montgomery,  under, 
the  Broadway  Portico  of  St.  Paul's  Chapel,  Broadway  and  Fulton 
Street.    R.  6. 

Soldiers'  and  Sailors'  Monument,  Riverside  Drive  and  Eighty- 
ninth  Street;  erected  by  the  city  to  the  heroes  of  the  Civil  War.  R.  18, 

Washington  Arch,  Washington  Square;  designed  by  Stanford 
White;  erected  by  popular  subscription  on  the  one  hundredth  an- 
niversary of  the  inauguration  of  Washington.    R.  10. 

Worth  Momiment,  Broadway  and  Twenty-fifth  Street;  designed  by 
Jas.  C.  Batterson;  erected  by  the  Corporation  of  the  City.    R.  15. 

Sculptured  Pediment,  N.  Y.  C.  and  H.  R.  R.  R.  Freight  Station, 
Hudson  Street,  to  the  railroad  achievements  of  Vanderbilt.    R.  9.  ' 


Chester  A.  Arthur,  Madison  Square,  designed  by  G.  E.  Bissell.  R.  15. 

Bust  of  Edwin  Booth,  70  West  Twenty-third  Street,  marking  the 
site  of  Booth's  Theatre.   R.  15. 

Simon  Bolivar,  at  the  West  Eighty-first  Street  entrance  to  Central 
Park;  by  De  La  Cora,  the  gift  of  the  people  and  the  Government  of 
Venezuela. 

Roscoe  Conkling,  Madison  Square;  by  J.  Q.  A.  Ward.    R.  15. 

377  s 


Manhattan  HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Dewitt  Clinton:  (i)  52-56  Broadway;  by  J.  Massey  Rhind.  R.  i; 
(2)  Hall  of  Records;  by  Philip  Martiny.  R.  5;  (3)  Chamber  of 
Commerce,  65  Liberty  Street,  R.  7. 

Cadzvalader  Colden,  Hall  of  Records;  by  Philip  Martiny.    R.  5. 

Columbus:  (i),  Central  Park,  near  the  Eighth  Avenue  and  Fifty- 
ninth  Street  entrance;  (2),  Mall,  Central  Park;  a  replica  of  Sunors 
statue ;  erected  by  the  New  York  Genealogical  and  Biographical  So- 
ciety; (3),  McGown's  Pass  Tavern,  Central  Park. 

6'.  S.  Cox,  Astor  Place;  by  Louise  Lawson;  erected  by  the  letter- 
carriers  of  the  United  States.    R.  11. 

Peter  Cooper,  in  front  of  Cooper  Union,  Fourth  Avenue  and  Bow- 
ery; by  St.  Gaudens ;  erected  by  popular  subscription.    R.  11. 

William  E.  Dodge,  Broadway  and  Thirty-sixth  Street;  by  J.  Q.  A. 
Ward;  erected  by  the  merchants  of  the  city. 

Abraham  de  Peyster,  Bowling  Green;  Geo.  E.  Bissell,  sculptor; 
erected  by  John  Watts  de  Peyster.    R.  i. 

Mayor  James  Duane,  Hall  of  Records ;  by  Philip  Martiny.    R.  5. 

David  P.  De  Vries,  Hall  of  Records ;  by  Philip  Martiny.    R.  5. 

John  Ericsson,  Battery  Park;  by  J.  Scott  Hartley;  erected  by  the 
Corporation  of  the  City.  R.  4. 

Admiral  Farragut,  Madison  Square;  by  St.  Gaudens;  presented  by 
the  Farragut  Memorial  Association.    R.  15. 

Benjamin  Franklin:  (i).  Printing  House  Square;  by  Plassman; 
presented  by  Captain  Albert  De  Groot.  R.  5;  (2),  in  front  of  the 
Staats  Zeitung  Building,  Spruce  and  William  Streets.    R.  5. 

Horace  Greeley  (i).  Printing  House  Square;  by  J.  Q.  A.  Ward; 
erected  by  private  subscription.  R.  5;  (2),  Broadway  and  Thirty- 
third  Street  (Greeley  Square);  by  Alexander  Doyle;  erected  by  a 
Grand  Army  Post  and  Typographical  Union. 

Gutenberg:  (i),  on  the  Staats  Zeitung  Building,  William  and 
Spruce  Streets.  R.  5;  (2),  Hoe  Building,  Grand  and  Sheriff  Streets. 
R.  13. 

Garibaldi,  Washington  Square;  by  Giovanni  Turini;  erected  by 
Italian  residents  of  New  York  City.    R.  10. 

Alexander  J-^aniilton:  (i),  on  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  65  Lib- 
erty Street;  presented  by  John  S.  Kennedy.  R.  7;  (2),  near  Hamilton 
Hall,  Columbia  University;  by  Ordway  Partridge.  R.  19;  (3),  bust 
on  the  duelling  ground  at  Weehawken.  R.  18;  (4),  on  the  West 
Drive,  near  the  Metropolitan  Museum,  Central  Park;  by  Conradts; 
presented  by  his  son,  John  C.  Hamilton. 


378 


HISTORICAL  STATUES  Manhattan 


Bust  of  Richard  M.  Hunt,  Fifth  Avenue  and  Seventieth  Street;  by 
D.  C.  French;  the  gift  of  several  art  societies. 

Bust  of  Alexander  L.  Hollcy,  inventor  of  Bessemer  steel,  in  Wash- 
ington Square;  by  J.  Q.  A.  Ward;  erected  by  Mechanical  Engineers 
of  Europe  and  America.    R.  lo. 

Henry  Hudson,  52-56  Broadway;  by  J.  Massey  Rhind.    R.  I. 

Nathan  Hale,  City  Hall  Park;  by  MacMonnies.   R.  5. 

Caleb  Heathcote,  Hall  of  Records ;  by  Philip  Martiny.    R.  5. 

IVinfield  Hancock,  in  Hancock  Square,  St.  Nicholas  Avenue  and  - 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-third  Street ;  erected  by  members  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

Bust  of  Washington  Irving,  Bryant  Park;  by  Beer;  presented  by 
Joseph  Wiener.    R.  17. 

John  Jay,  Chamber  of  Commerce,  65  Liberty  Street.    R.  7. 
^afayette,  Union  Square;  by  Bartholdi;  presented  by  French  resi- 
dents.   R.  14. 

Lincoln,  Union  Square;  by  H.  K.  Browne;  erected  by  popular  sub- 
scription under  the  auspices  of  the  Union  League  Club.    R.  14. 

Bust  of  Mazcini,  W^est  Drive,  Central  Park;  by  Turini;  presented 
by  Italian  residents. 

6'.  F.  B.  Morse,  Central  Park,  near  the  East  Seventy-second  Street 
entrance ;  by  Byron  M.  Pickett ;  erected  by  the  telegraphic  craft. 

Peter  Stuyvesant:  (r),  52-56  Broadw^ay;  by  J.  Massey  Rhind.    R.  i;  ' 
(2),  Hall  of  Reco?^ds;  by  Philip  Martiny.    R.  5;   (3),  effigy,  outer 
wall  of  St.  Mark's-in-the-Bow^ery,  Second  Avenue  and  Tenth  Street. 
R.  II. 

/.  Marion  Sims,  Bryant  Park;  by  Miller;  erected  by  public  sub- 
scription.   R.  17. 

Wm.  T.  Sherman,  Plaza  entrance  to  Central  Park;  by  St.  Gaudens; 
erected  under  the  auspices  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce.    R.  17. 

\Vm.  H.  Seward,  Madison  Square ;  by  Randolph  Rogers.    R.  15. 

General  Frans  Sigel,  Riverside  Drive  and  One  Hundred  and  Sixth 
Street ;  by  Karl  Bitter,  erected  by  public  subscription.  ^ 

Washington:  (i).  Union  Square;  by  H.  K.  Browne;  erected  by 
popular  subscription.  R.  14;  (2),  Sub  Treasury;  by  J.  Q.  A.  Ward; 
erected  by  public  subscription  under  the  auspices  of  the  Chamber  of 
Commerce.  R.  2;  (3),  Washington  and  Lafayette,  Manhattan  Av- 
enue and  One  Hundred  and  Fourteenth  Street ;  by  Bartholdi  and  the 
gift  of  C.  B.  Rouss. 


379 


Manhattan  HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Daniel  Webster,  West  Drive,  near  Seventy-second  Street,  Central 
Park;  by  Thos.  Ball;  the  gift  of  Gordon  W.  BurnhaVi. 

Allegorical  Statuary. 

Statue  of  Liberty,  Bedloe's  or  Liberty  Island;  by  Bartholdi;  paid 
for  by  popular  subscription  in  France,  the  pedestal  by  popular  sub- 
scription in  America.  R.  4. 

The  Pilgrim,  Central  Park,  near  the  East  Seventy-second  Street 
entrance;  by  J.  Q.  A.  Ward;  presented  by  the  New  England  Society 
of  the  City  of  New  York. 

The  Seventh  Regiment  (a  figure  of  a  private  soldier  of  this  com- 
mand), on  the  West  Drive  of  Central  Park,  near  the  Seventy-second 
Street  entrance ;  by  J.  Q.  A.  Ward ;  erected  in  commemoration  of 
those  members  who  fell  during  the  Civil  War. 

Recording  of  the  Purchase  of  Manhattan^  Hall  of  Records;  by 
Albert  Weinert.    R.  5- 

The  Consolidation  of  Greater  New  York,  Hall  of  Records;  by  Al 
bert  Weinert.    R.  5. 

The  Movement  of  American  Commerce,  pediment  of  the  Stock 
Exchange;  by  J.  Q.  A.  Ward.    R.  3. 

Groups  representing  Asia,  Africa,  Europe  and  America,  on  Custom 
House;  by  D.  C.  French.  Above  the  cornice  are  statues  representing 
France,  England,  Germany,  Scandinavia,  Spain,  Portugal,  Holland 
Venice,  Genoa,  Phoenicia,  Greece  and  Rome;  by  Elwell,  Gelert,  Grae- 
fly,  Jacques,  Lukeman,  Louis  St.  Gaudens  and  Tonetti. 

Tablets  in  Manhattan. 

Period  of  the  Dutch  Occupation. 

41  Broadway,  iirst  white  men's  houses  in  Manhattan;  Holland  So- 
ciety.   R.  I. 

Collector's  Office,  Custom  House,  Fort  Amsterdam.    R.  i. 

Middle  Dut-^h  Church,  Seventh  Street  and  Second  Avenue,  Church 
of  St.  Nicholas  in  Fort  Amsterdam  and  the  original  Middle  Church 
on  Exchange  Place.    R.  11. 

Within  the  Middle  Dutch  Reformed  Church,  to  Minuit,  Krol,  Huyck 
and  Michaelius,  officers  of  the  original  church.    R.  11. 


380 


HISTORICAL  TABLETS  Manhattan 


Collegiate  Dutch  Reformed  Church,  Forty-eighth  Street  and  Fifth 
Avenue,  the  Church  in  the  Fort.    R.  17. 

23  Whitehall  Street,  house  of  Domine  Bogardus  and  Anneke  Jans 
Bogardus;  Knickerbocker  Chapter,  D.  A.  R.    R.  i. 

73  Pearl  Street,  Stadt  Huys;  Holland  Society.    R.  3. 

Thirteenth  Street  and  Third  Avenue,  Peter  Stuyvesanfs  pear  tree; 
Holland  Society.    R.  11. 

Wall  of  Jewish  Cemetery,  Oliver  Street  and  New  Bowery,  iirst 
Jczcish  Cemetery  and  a  Revolutionary  fort;  American  Scenic  and 
Historic  Preservation  Society  and  the  Jewish  Historical  Society.  R. 
12. 

8-10  Pearl  Street,  first  Dutch  settlers;  Holland  Dames  of  New 
Netherlands.    R.  i. 

8-10  Peck  Slip,  Warehouse  of  Isaac  Allerton;  General  Society  of 
Mayflower  Descendants.    R.  7. 

Period  of  the  English  Occupation  to  1765. 

Battery  Park,  opposite  Custom  House  (Fort  George  Monument)  ; 
southwest  bastion  of  Fort  George;  Corporation  of  the  City  of  New 
York,  replaced  under  the  auspices  of  the  American  Scenic  and  His- 
toric Preservation  Society  and  the  New  York  Historical  Society.  R.  i. 

East  wall  of  Produce  Exchange,  First  Huguenot  Church;  Huguenof 
Society  of  Americ:i.    R.  i. 

81  Pearl  Street,  -first  printing  press  in  New  York;  New  York  His- 
torical Society.  R.  3. 

Cotton  Exchange,  Hanover  Square,  New  York  Gazette,  the  first 
New  York  newspaper ;  New  York  Historical  Society.    R.  3. 

Murray  Street  and  W^est  Broadway,  Kings  College.    R.  6. 

Mutual  Life  Building,  Nassau  and  Cedar  Streets,  Middle  Dutch 
Church;  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company  of  New  York.    R.  7. 

Schieren  Building,  Cliff  and  Ferry  Streets,  the  Old  Swamp;  Hide 
and  Leather  Association  of  New  York.    R.  7.  ^ 

First  Presbyterian  Church,  old  Presbyterian  Church  in  JJ^all  Street. 
R.  14. 


381 


Manhattan  HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Period  of  the  Revolution,  1765-1783. 

I  Broadway,  Kennedy  House  and  the  Statue  of  George  III;  Sons 
of  the  Revolution.    R.  i. 

Fraunces  Tavern,  54  Pearl  Street,  (i)  Frederick  Samuel  Tallmadge; 
Sons  of  the  Revolution;  (2),  in  the  Long  Room,  establishment  of  the 
Chamber  of  Commerce,  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Correspondence 
and  Washington's  Farewell;  Sons  of  the  Revolution.    R.  3. 

Broad  and  Beaver  Streets,  exploits  of  Marinus  Willett;  Sons  of 
the  Revolution.    R.  3. 

City  Hall,  Reading  of  Declaration  of  Independence  to  the  Army; 
Sons  of  the  Revolution.    R.  5. 

Within  the  General  Post  Office,  Liberty  Pole  and  Battle  of  Golden 
Hill;  Mary  Washington  Colonial  Chapter,  D.  A.  R.    R.  5. 

Thames  Street  and  Broadway,  De  Lanc'ey  House  {Burns*  Coffee 
House)y  City  Hotel,  signing  of  Non-Important  Agreement  (?);  Hol- 
land Society  of  New  York.    R.  6. 

Sub-Treasury,  Washington  in  prayer  at  Valley  Forge;  Lafayette 
Post  No.  140,  G.  A.  R.    R.  2. 

Park  space.  Park  Avenue  and  Thirty-seventh  Street,  Murray  House, 
scene  of  Mrs.  Murray's  detention  of  British  officers;  Knickerbocker 
Chapter,  D.  A.  R.    R.  17. 

1497  Broadway,  meeting  of  Washington  and  Putnam,  September  15, 
1776;  Sons  of  the  Revolution.  R.  18. 

Engineering  Building,  Columbia  University,  Battle  of  Harlem 
Heights;  Sons  of  the  Revolution.  R.  19. 

Park  Space,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-seventh  Street  and  Broad- 
way, first  line  of  defences  in  the  Revolution;  Washington  Heights 
Chapter,  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution.    R.  23. 

Wall  of  Trinity  Cemetery,  Broadway  and  One  Hundred  and  Fifty- 
third  Street,  defences  of  the  Revolution ;  Sons  of  the  Revolution.  R. 
23. 


38J 


HISTORICAL  TABLETS  Manhattan 


One  Hundred  and  Fifty-ninth  Street  and  Broadway,  third  line  of 
defences  in  the  Revolution;  Mary  Washington  Col.  Chapter,  Daughters 
of  the  American  Revolution.    R.  23. 

Washington's  Headquarters  (Roger  Morris,  Jumel  Mansion), 
Headquarters  of  Washington;  Washington  Heights  Chapter,  D.  A.  R. 
R.  23. 

Washington's  Headquarters,  acquisition  of  the  building  and  grounds 
for  a  museum;  Park  Department.    R.  23. 

Fort  Washington  Avenue,  near  One  Hundred  and  Eighty-third  . 
Street,  Fort  Washington;  James  Gordon  Bennett.    R.  24. 

Fort  Washington  Avenue,  near  One  Hundred  and  Ninety-sixth 
Street,  Fort  Tryon;  C.  K.  G.  Billings  and  the  American  Scenic  and 
Historic  Preservation  Society.    R.  26. 

Within  Holy  rood  Church,  179th  Street  and  Fort  Washington 
Avenue,  exploit  of  Margaret  Corbin;  ]\Iary  Washington  Colonial 
Chapter,  D.  A.  R.    R.  24. 

Within  the  Collegiate  Dutch  Reformed  Church,  Fifth  Avenue  and 
Forty-eighth  Street,  soldiers  and  sailors  of  the  Revolution;  Daugh- 
ters of  the  Revolution,  State  of  New  York.    R.  17. 

Under  barred  window  on  Rhinelander  Building,  Rose  and  Duane 
Streets,  Cuyler-Rhinelander  Sugar  House.    R.  7. 

City  Hall  Park,  near  Bridge  Terminal,  Provost  Prison;  Mary  Wash- 
ington Colonial  Chapter,  D.  A.  R.    R.  5. 

23  Whitehall  Street,  Whitehall  Ferry,  scene  of  Washington's  de- 
parture in  1782;  Mary  Washington  Colonial  Chapter,  D.  A.  R.    R.  i. 

Modern  Period,  since  1783. 
Sub-Treasury,  Ordinance  of  1787;  Ohio  Company  of  Associates.  R. 

2. 

Within  the  Sub-Treasury,  inscribed  slab  on  which  Washington 
stood  zvJiile  delivering  his  first  inaugural  address.    R.  2. 

Within  St.  Paul's  Chapel,  Centennial  of  Washington's  inauguration; 
the  Aisle  Committee  at  services  held  in  St.  Paul's  Chapel.    R.  6.  ' 

Within  St.  Paul's  Chapel,  One  Hundredth  Anniversary  of  Wash- 
ington's death.    R.  6. 

Brooklyn  Bridge  Pier,  Franklin  Square,  First  Presidential  Mansion; 
Mary  Washington  Colonial  Chapter,  D.  A.  R.    R.  7. 


383 


Manhattan  HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Hamilton  Grange,  home  of  Alexander  Hamilton;  Washington 
Heights  Chapter,  D.  A.  R.    R.  23. 

German  Reformed  Church,  Baron  Steuben.    R.  20. 

William  and  Wall  Streets,  cornerstone  of  the  Bank  of  New  York. 
R.  2. 

Directors'  Room,  Life  Insurance  and  Trust  Company,  52  Wall 
Street,  cornerstone  of  the  United  States  Branch  Bank.    R.  2. 

56  Wall  Street,  Morris  Robinson  and  the  establishment  of  the 
business  of  modern  life  insurance  in  America;  Canadian  Society  of 
New  York.    R.  2. 

Within  City  Hall,  two  inscribed  marble  slabs  transferred  from  the 
top  course  of  the  coping  of  City  Hall,  giving  names  of  the  Building 
Committee,  architect,  stone  cutter,  masons,  etc.,  and  a  tablet  in  com- 
memoration of  these  being  placed  here  on  the  250th  anniversary  of 
the  City  Charter.    R.  5. 

Block  House  No.  Central  Park,  defences  of  the  War  of  1812; 
Woman's  Auxiliary  to  the  American  Scenic  and  Historic  Preserva- 
tion Society.    R.  21. 

Block  House  No.  3,  Morningside  Park  and  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-third  Street,  defences  of  War  of  1812;  Woman's  Auxiliary 
to  the  American  Scenic  and  Historic  Preservation  Society.  R.  19. 

Near  McGown's  Pass,  Central  Park,  Fort  Clinton  and  McGown's 
Pass;  children  of  the  City  History  Club.    R.  21. 

Aquarium,  acquisition  of  Castle  Garden  for  a  Museum;  Park  De- 
partment.   R.  4. 

Aquarium,  Battery  Park,  or.tside  wall,  near  entrance:  Events  in  con- 
nection ZL'ith  the  history  of  tlic  building ;  erected  in  1909  by  the  New 
York  Zoological  Society.    P.  38.    R.  4. 

Fayerweather  Hall,  Columbia  University,  defences  of  the  War  of 
1812;  Empire  State  Society,  Daughters  of  1812.    R.  19. 

90  Pearl  Street,  Hre  of  1835.    R-  3- 

136  Fulton  Street,  Shakespeare  Tavern  and  organization  of  Seventh 
Regiment;  Veterans  of  the  Seventh  Regiment.    R.  7. 

Grove  Street  School,  Lafayette's  visit  to  the  old  school  in  1824, 
Charles  R.  Lvimb.    R.  8. 

Firemen's  Monument,  Hudson  Park,  acquisition  by  the  city  of  St 
John's  Cemetery  for  a  public  park.    R.  8. 


384 


HISTORICAL  TABLETS  Manhattan 


Within  Middle  Dutch  Reformed  Church,  /.  C.  Lanphicr,  founder  of 
Fulton  Street  Prayer  Meeting.    R.  ii. 

63  Prince  Street,  Gouverneur  House,  where  President  Monroe  died ; 
Woman's  Auxihary  to  the  American  Scenic  and  Historical  Preser- 
vation Society.    R.  13. 

Madison  Avenue,  between  Forty-ninth  and  Fiftieth  Streets,  Colum- 
bia College.    R.  17. 

5  West  Twenty-second  Street,  home  of  S.  F.  B.  Morse.    R.  15. 

Sidewalk,  near  wTst  gate  of  Gramercy  Park,  gift  of  park  land.  R. 
14.  ^ 

University  Place  and  Thirteenth  Street,  home  of  Ninth  Regiment; 
Veterans  of  the  Ninth  Regiment.    R.  14. 

North  of  Grant's  Tomb,  to  the  memory  of  General  Grant;  Li 
Hung  Chang.    R.  19. 

In  Tompkins  Square,  to  the  memory  of  the  victims  of  the  S locum 
disaster;  erected  by  popular  subscription.    R.  11. 

Within  the  Middle  Dutch  Reformed  Church,  to  the  memory  of 
the  victims  of  the  Slocum  disaster.    R.  11. 

50  Broadway,  first  skeleton  frame  steel  structure;  Society  of 
Architecture  and  Ironmasters  in  New  York.    R.  i. 

Twenty-second  Street  and  Twelfth  Avenue,  Chelsea  Improvement ; 
Dock  Department.    R.  16. 

Pavement  in  front  of  City  Hall,  first  excavation  for  the  Under- 
ground Railzuay.    R.  5. 

City  Hall  Subway  Station,  completion  of  the  first  New  York  Sub- 
way.   R.  5. 

West  Street,  near  Bank  Street,  widening  and  improvement  of  IVest 
Street.    R.  8. 


38S 


The  Bronx 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Monuments,  Statues  and  Tablets  in  the  Bronx. 


Henry  Hudson  Monument,  Spuyten  Duyvil  Hill;  erected  by  the 
Henry  Hudson  Monument  Commission  of  the  Bronx  Citizens'  Hudson- 
Fulton  Celebration  Commission.    P.  183. 

Statue  of  Major-General  Josiah  Porter,  north  of  Van  Cortlandt 
Mansion;  erected  by  the  National  Guard,  State  of  New  York.    R.  29. 

Monument  to  the  Founders  of  New  York  University,  on  the  Uni- 
versity Campus.    R.  30. 

Tablet  on  Van  Cortlandt  Mansion,  historic  events  connected  with 
the  house;  Colonial  Dames  of  the  State  of  New  York.    R.  29. 

Inscription  on  the  window  from  the  Rhinelander  Sugar  House 
stating  its  use  as  a  Revolutionary  prison;  placed  in  Van  Cortlandt 
Park;  by  J.  F.  Oakley  Rhinelander.    R.  29. 

Tablet  on  cairn  in  Van  Cortlandt  Park,  near  Mount  Vernon  Ave- 
nue and  Two  Hundred  and  Thirty-seventh  Street,  in  memory  of 
the  Stockbridge  Indians  who  aided  the  patriots  in  the  Revolution; 
Bronx  Chapter  of  the  Mount  Vernon  (New  York)  Chapter,  D.  A.  R. 
R.  29.    Removed  by  vandals,  1912. 

Tablet  on  Glover's  Rock,  near  Bartow,  Pelham  Neck,  to  mark  the 
Battle  of  Pell's  Point;  Bronx  Chapter  of  the  Mount  Vernon  Chap- 
ter, D.  A.  R.    R.  34. 

Inscription  on  the  Macedonia  Hotel,  City  Island,  marking  the 
British  Frigate  Macedonia;  placed  by  the  War  Department.    R.  34. 

Tablets  in  St.  Ann's  Church,  St.  Ann's  Avenue  and  One  Hundred 
and  Fortieth  Street,  to  the  memory  of  the  Morris  family.    R.  31. 

Tablet  on  Chemistry  Building,  New  York  University,  near  site  of 
Fort  No.  Eight,  to  the  men  of  the  Revolution  and  Revolutionary  de- 
fences near  by;  Sons  of  the  Revolution.    R.  30. 

Tablets  in  the  Hall  of  Fame,  New  York  University,  to  honor  great 
Americans.    R.  30.    See  p.  390a. 

Split  Rock,  Pelham  Bay  Park,  in  memory  of  Ann  Marbury  Hutch- 
inson;  erected  by  the  Colonial  Dames,  State  of  New  York.   R.  34. 


386 


HISTORICAL    MONUMENTS  Brooklyn 


Monuments  and  Statues  in  Brooklyn. 

Martyrs'  Tomb,  Fort  Greene  Park,  to  the  victims  of  the  old  prison 
ships  in  the  Wallabout. 

Maryland  Monument,  Lookout  Hill,  Prospect  Park,  in  honor  of 
Maryland's  Four  Hundred  in  the  Battle  of  Long  Island;  presented 
by  the  Maryland  Society,  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution.    R.  38. 

Monument  to  the  United  States  soldiers  who  fell  in  China  in  1856, 
Brooklyn  Navy  Yard.    R.  37. 

Soldiers'  and  Sailors'  Memorial  Arch,  main  entrance  to  Prospect 
Park;  by  John  H.  Duncan,  has  reliefs  by  Power,  quadriga  by  Mac- 
DMonnies;  to  the  heroes  of  the  Civil  War.    R.  38. 

Skene  Monument,  triangle  north  of  Prospect  Park  Plaza,  by  J. 
Massey  Rhind. 

Henry  Ward  Beecher,  in  front  of  Borough  Hall;  by  J.  Q.  A.  Ward. 
R.  36. 

General  Fowler,  Fort  Greene  Park. 

General  Grant,  Bedford  Avenue,  near  Dean  Street;  by  William 
Ordway  Partridge;  the  gift  of  the  Union  League  Club  of  Brooklyn. 

Alexander  Hamilton,  entrance  to  the  Hamilton  Club,  Clinton  and 
Remsen  Streets. 

Washington  Irving,  Prospect  Park,  near  the  Italian  Flower  gar- 
den; the  gift  of  Demas  Barnes. 

Lincoln,  Prospect  Park,  near  the  flower  garden  overlooking  the 
lake;  by  popular  subscription. 

Henry  W.  Maxwell,  Prospect  Park  Plaza;  by  his  friends. 

General  Slocum,  Bedford  Street  and  Eastern  Parkway;  by  Mac- 
Monnies. 

James  S.  T,  Stranahan,  Prospect  Park;  by  subscription. 
Bust  of  Peter  Turner,  St.  James  Pro-Cathedral,  Jay  and  Chapel 
Streets.  R.  36. 

Major  General  Warren,  Prospect  Park  Plaza;  by  Henry  Baerer; 
presented  by  G.  K.  Warren  Post  No.  286,  G.  A.  R.  ^ 

Washington,  Plaza,  Williamsburg;  H.  W.  Shrady;  the  gift  of  Ex- 
Register  James  R.  Howe.  R.  35a. 


387 


Queens 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Richmond 


Tablets  in  Brooklyn. 

Flatbush  Dutch  Reformed  Church,  Colonial  and  Revolutionary 
events  in  connection  with  the  church;  Colonial  Daughters  of  the  17th 
Century.    R.  39. 

Smith-Gray  Building,  Fulton  Street  and  Flatbush  Avenue,  line  of 
defence,  Battle  of  Long  Island;  Sons  of  the  Revolution.    R.  37. 

Battle  Pass,  East  Drive,  Prospect  Park,  Valley  Grove,  and  outer 
line  of  defence,  Battle  of  Long  Island.  R.  38. 

Fifth  Avenue  and  Third  Street,  V echte-Cortelyou  House  and  Bat- 
tle of  Long  Island;  Sons  of  the  Revolution.    R.  42. 

On  Liberty  Pole,  in  front  of  New  Utrecht  Dutch  Reformed  Church, 
Revolutionary  Liberty  Pole;  Descendants  of  the  Patriots  who  erected 
the  first  pole  in  1783.    R.  43. 

Borough  Hall  Subway  Station,  opening  of  the  first  Subway  con- 
necting  Manhattan  and  Brooklyn.    R.  36. 

Monuments  and  Tablets  in  Queens, 

Soldiers'  Monument,  Flushing,  to  the  heroes  of  the  Civil  War.  R. 
51. 

Tablet,  within  St.  George's  Church,  Flushing,  to  Francis  Lewis,  a 
signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.    R.  51. 

Tablet  on  boulder,  opposite  the  Bowne  House,  Flushing,  to  mark 
site  of  Fox  Oaks;  Flushing  Historical  Society.    R.  51. 

Soldiers'  Monument,  Jamaica,  to  Civil  War  heroes;  by  F.  W. 
Ruckstuhl. 

Tablet  in  Grace  Church,  Jamaica,  to  John  A.  King,  Governor 
of  New  York. 

Tablets  in  Richmond. 

Two  tablets  on  either  side  of  the  flight  of  steps  of  Borough  Hall, 
giving  the  dates  of  principal  events  in  the  Borough  of  Richmond.  R. 
53- 

Memorial  slab  on  the  Garibaldi  House,  Stapleton,  to  commemorate 
the  residence  of  Garibaldi.    R.  55- 

St.  Andrew's  Church,  Richmond,  in  memory  of  Queen  Anne's  gift 
to  the  church.    R.  58. 


388 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


ADDENDA 
MANHATTAN 

Fulton  JVater  Gate  and  Monument,  to  be  erected  on  Riverside  Drive, 
between  One  Hundred  and  Fourteenth  and  One  Hundred  and  Sixteenth 
streets,  site  possibly  to  be  changed  to  one  centring  on  One  Hundred 
and  Tenth  Street;  by  subscription  under  the  auspices  of  the  Robert 
Fulton  Monument  Association.  The  architect,  chosen  b\  competition, 
is  H.  \'an  Buren  Magonigle,  F.A.I. A.  There  will  be  a  reception 
pavilion  and  a  naval  museum,  connected  by  a  peristyle  and  approached  ' 
by  a  flight  of  steps  from  the  water  level.  Recreation  piers  will  extend 
into  the  river  and  enclose  a  harbor  with  landing  stages.    P.  139. 

Xational  Maine  Monument,  at  the  Circle,  Fifty-ninth  Street  and 
Eighth  Avenue ;  by  subscription  under  the  auspices  of  the  National 
Maine  Monument  Association.    P.  139. 

Carl  Schur::  Memorial  and  Statue,  Morningside  Avenue  and  One 
Hundred  and  Sixteenth  Street ;  Karl  Bitter :  by  public  subscription 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Carl  Schurz  Memorial  Association.   P.  140. 

Statue  of  William  Cullen  Bryant.  Bryant  Park:  by  Herbert  Adams; 
erected  by  the  Century  Association.    P.  138. 

Statue  of  .llcxandcr  7.  Cassatt  in  Pennsylvania  R.  R.  Terminal, 
Thirty-second  Street  and  Seventh  Avenue. 

George  Dixon  Memorial  Fountain,  Thompson  Street,  near  Broome ^ 
Street. 

Statue  of  Fitz  Gfcene  Halleck,  Central  Park,  unveiled  1877. 

Bust  of  Postmaster  Pearson  in  the  Post  Office,  City  Hall  Park.    R.  5. 

Statue  of  J^erracano,  Battery  Park:  presented  by  Italian  residents 
of  New  York.    P.  38. 

Statue  of  General  Wolfe,  52-56  Broadway:  by  J.  Massey  Rhind.  R.  i. 

Allegorical  group — Indian  Hunter  zvith  Dog,  Mall,  Central  Park. 

Commemorative  and  allegorical  statuary  on  the  new  Municipal  Build- 
ing.   P.  65. 

Firemen's  Memorial  Monument.  Riverside  Drive  and  One  Hundredth 
Street ;  the  City  of  New  York.  / 
TABLETS:  DUTCH  PERIOD 

Custom  House  entrance  staircase,  to  mark  site  of  Fort  Amsterdam, 
exploration  of  Hudson  River^  founding  of  Nezv  Amsterdam  and  estab- 
lishment of  American  independence :  with  an  outline  plan  of  the  fort; 
New  York  State  Societv,  Order  of  Founders  and  Patriots  of  America. 

p.  37. 

Custom  House  rotunda  :  site  of  the  first  substantial  chur^'h  cdificf  if} 
Manhattan;  Holland  Society.  R.  i. 

389  . 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Court  of  Produce  Exchange,  facing  Stone  Street,  site  of  first  Dutch 
School;  New  York  Schoolmasters'  Club.    P.  38. 

48  Wall  Street :  site  of  a  bastion  in  the  old  city  wall;  Society  of 
Colonial  Wars  in  the  State  of  New  York.    P.  38. 

Exchange  Alley  and  Broadway:  ''Tuyn  Paat"  or  ''Tin  Pot  Alley" ; 
Dr.  Morgan  Dix.    R.  i. 

15  Maiden  Lane :  "Maagde  Paatje"  or  the  Maidens'  Path ;  Maiden 
Lane  Historical  Society.  Pp.  61,  67.  See  1912  Report  American  Scenic 
and  Historic  Preservation  Society. 

Liberty  Place:  Liberty  Place  Inscription;  Liberty  Place  Historical 
Society. 

New  York  University,  Washington  Square:  Adam  Roclantsen  and 
other  Dutch  Schoolmasters.    P.  83. 

Marble  Collegiate  Church,  Eifth  Avenue  and  Twenty-ninth  Street: 
Church  in  the  Fort.    R.  15. 

ENGLISH  PERIOD 

Custom  House  entrance:  first  Mass  said  in  Manhattan ;  Order  of  the 
Alhambra.    P.  37. 

St.  Peter's  Church,  Barclay  Street:  first  Roman  Catholic  Church  in 
Manhattan.    P.  66. 

John  Street  Methodist  Church :  Captain  Webb,  Bishop  Asbury,  Bar- 
bara Heck,  Philip  Embury,  S.  S.  Hadley,  Bishop  E.  G.  Andrews,  Dr. 
W.  H.  De  Puy,  B.  M.  Tilton,  etc.    Pp.  62  and  67. 

Church  du  St.  Esprit,  45  East  Twenty-seventh  Street:  original 
Huguenot  Church  in  Nczv  York ;  Huguenot  Society  of  Am.erica.    R.  15. 

Tulip  Tree,  Cold  Spring,  upper  end  of  Manhattan.    P.  174. 

REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 

West  Side  Branch,  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  318  West  Fifty-seventh  Street: 
Washington  in  prayer  at  Valley  Forge.    R.  17. 

South  end  of  Viaduct,  near  West  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-eighth 
Street:  the  Hollow  Way;  Knickerbocker  Chapter,  Daughters  of  the 
American  Revolution.    P.  139. 

Within  Historical  Museum,  College  of  the  City  of  New  York:  the 
occupation  of  uiis  region  by  the  American  Army  after  the  Battle  of 
Harlem  Heights;  Sons  of  the  Revolution.    P.  151. 

Fort  Washington  Point :  inscription  on  boulder  monument  to  mark 
Revolutionary  redoubt;  Fort  Washington  Chapter,  Daughters  of  the 
American  Re\*olution.    P.  173. 

Two  Hundred  and  Twenty-eighth  Street  and  Marble  Hill  Avenue: 
inscription  on  flagstafif  to  mark  Fort  Prince  Charles.    R.  27. 

390 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


MODERN  PERIOD 

Within   pedestal,    Statue    of   Liberty:    Emma   Lazarus;  Georgina 
Schuyler.    P.  38. 

On  memorial  lantern,  new  Seamen's  Institute,  Coenties  Slip:  fidelity 
of  officers  and  crew  of  the  S.  S.  Titanic.    P.  38. 

P.  S.  No.  2,  116  Henry  Street:  centenary  of  the  founding  of  this 
school;  Alumni  Association.    P.  102. 

On  new  Municipal  Building,  Center  Street :  arins  of  the  city  and 
province  of  New  York.    P.  65. 

Cooper  Union:  Peter  Cooper,  Abraham  Lincoln  and  Charles  Sprague 
Smith.    P.  loi. 

Fourth  Avenue  and  Seventeenth  Street:  tablet  and  medallion  head  of 
William  Lloyd  Garrison.    P.  138. 

Union  Square  Hotel,- Fourth  Avenue:  tablet  and  medallion  head  of 
Henry  George.    P.  138. 

North  of  Grant's  Tomb:  Japanese  cherry  trees  and  tablet  to  the 
memory  of  General  Grant;  gift  of  Japanese  Government.    P.  173. 

College  of  the  City  of  New  York:  Edward  M.  Shepard. 

On  kiosk.  Riverside  Drive  and  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-first  Street: 
Sailors  of  the  New  Hampshire,    P.  173. 

Edgecombe  Avenue  and  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-fifth  Street:  Foun- 
tain and  Light  Tower;  erected  1894  by  bequest  of  George  Hooper.  • 
P.  173- 

Fountain  and  Memorial  Tablet,  west  end  of  Washington  Bridge: 
Andrew  Jackson;  Andrew  Jackson  Chapter,  National  Society,  U.  S. 
Daughters  of  1812.    P.  173. 

BRONX 

Hall  of  Fame,  New  York  University:  bust  of  Robert  Fulton  above 
his  tablet.  P.  183.  See  full  account  of  the  Hall  of  Fame,  list  of  tablets, 
etc.,  in  the  1908,  191 1  and  1912  Reports  of  the  American  Scenic  and 
Historic  Preservation  Society.  / 

Heine  Monument  and  Fountain,  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-first  Street 
and  Mott  Avenue:  presented  by  German-American  Societies.    P.  199. 

Inscription  on  boulder  in  grounds  of  New  York  University,  to  mark 
exact  site  of  Fort  No.  Eight.    P.  189. 

Tablet  to  Andrew  Haswell  Green;  Green  Memorial  Laboratory.  New 
York  University. 

Soldier's  Monument,  West  Farms  Presbyterian  Churchyard;  by  sub- 
scription.   P.  213. 

390a  ^ 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Tablet  on  gates  at  lower  end  of  Buffalo  Reservation,  Zoological 
Garden,  Bronx  Park :  Lydig  Farm. 

Tablet  for  Fort  No.  One,  on  the  Muschenheim  residence;  by  Wm.  C. 
Muschenheim.    P.  183. 

Tablet  to  Jordan  L.  Mott,  in  Mott  Memorial  Church ;  by  the  con- 
gregation.    P.  198. 

Tablet  to  Anne  Hutchinson  on  Split  Rock,  Pelham  Bay  Park;  by 
Colonial  Dames  of  the  State  of  New  York.  R.  34.  See  1912  Report 
American  Scenic  and  Historic  Preservation  Society,  p.  163. 

Tablet  on  St.  Paul's  Church,  Eastchester,  giving  an  account  of  the 
church  and  village  green;  Empire  State  Society  Sons  of  the  American 
Revolution.    R.  215. 

Two  Stones  in  St.  Paul's  Churchyard,  Eastchester,  in  memory  of 
tJie  American  and  Hessian  soldiers  buried  here;  Bronx  Chapter, 
Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution.  P.  215. 

BROOKLYN 

Tablet,  Flatlands  Reformed  Church;  Colonial  Daughters  of  the  Seven- 
teenth Century.    P.  264. 

Inscription  on  Sidezvalk,  Third  Avenue  and  Seventh  Street,  in  mem- 
ory of  the  Maryland  Soldiers  who  fell  and  were  buried  here  during  the 
Battle  of  Long  Island.    P.  264. 

QUEENS 

Plaza,  Queensboro  Bridge,  Long  Island  City:  Lipton  tablet  on  mast 
of  America's  Cup  challenger,  Shamrock  3,  presented  to  the  city  by 
Sir  Thomas  J.  Lipton. 

1,000-ton  shell  from  the  battleship  Maine  in  Londen  Park,  Corona,  in 
honor  of  Hugo  Kruse,  a  sailor  from  Corona  who  lost  his  life  when  the 
battleship  was  blown  up  in  Havana  in  1898.    P.  314. 

Tablet  in  St.  James  Church,  Flushing,  to  Rev.  Wm.  Urquhart,  the 
first  rector;  Rev.  Edward  M.  McGuffey.    P.  314. 

Tablet  in  P.  S.  35,  Palatina  Avenue,  Hollis  Heights:  Gen.  Nathaniel 
IVoodhull;  Sons  of  the  Revolution.    P.  314. 

RICHMOND 

Statue  of  R.  R.  Randall,  by  St.  Gaudcns,  near  entrance  to  Sailors' 
Snug  Harbor.    P.  350. 

Three  tablets  in  St.  Andrew's  Church,  Richmond:  (i)  Queen  Anne; 
(2)  the  first  rector,  Rev.  E.  S.  Mackenzie;  (3)  the  fourteen  later 
rectors,    P.  350. 

390b 


APPENDIX  C. 


NOTABLE  HISTORIC  BUILDINGS  STANDING  (1912). 
MANHATTAN. 

Fraunces  Tavern,  54  Pearl  Street,  built  1719  by  Etienne  De  Lancey. 
Excursion  VI,  p.  39. 

Golden  Hill  Inn,  122-4  William  Street,  built  about  1750.    R.  7. 

St.  Paxils  Chapel,  Broadway  and  Vesey  Street,  built  1764-6.    R.  5. 

Washington's  Headquarters  (Roger  Morris  or  Jumel  Mansion). 
One  Hundred  and  Sixty-second  Street  and  Jumel  Place,  built  shortly 
before  the  Revolution  (1765),  p.  156. 

St.  Mark's-in-the-Bowery,  Second  Avenue  and  Tenth  Street,  built 

1795-9.  R.  II. 

St.  Johns  Chapel,  46  Varick  Street,  built  1803-7.    R-  9- 

St.  Patrick's  Church  (formerly  the  Cathedral),  Mott  and  Prince 
Streets,  built  1809.    R.  13. 

Hamilton  Grange,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-first  Street  and  Con- 
vent Avenue,  built  1802-4.    R.  23. 

Grade  House,  East  River  Park,  near  Eighty-eighth  Street,  built 
1813.    R.  20. 

Claremont,  north  end  of  Riverside  Park,  built  shortly  after  the 
Revolution.    R.  19. 

City  Hall,  City  Hall  Park,  built  1803-12.    R.  5. 

Aquarium  (Castle  Clinton  or  Southwest  Battery),  Battery  Park, 
built  1807-11.    R.  4. 

Fort  Ja\  (Fort  Columbus),  Governor's  Island,  built  about  181 1. 
R.  4. 

Castle  Williams,  Governor's  Island,  built  about  i8ri.    R.  4. 

Southeast  Battery,  Governor's  Island,  built  about  181 1.    R.  4.  ' 

Block  House  No.  i,  Central  Park,  built  1814.    R.  21. 

Block  House  No.  3,  Morningside  Park  and  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-third  Street,  built  1814.    R.  19. 

United  States  Assay  Office,  32  Wall  Street,  oldest  Federal  building 
in  Manhattan,  built  1823.    R.  2.  (About  to  be  demolished.) 

St.  Luke's  Chapel,  Hudson  Street,  opposite  Grove  Street,  built  1821- 
4.    R.  8. 


391 


The  Bronx 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Brooklyn 


St.  Peter's  Church,  Barclay  and  Church  Streets,  the  oldest  Roman 
Catholic  Church  in  Manhattan,  built  1838-9.    R.  6. 

Trinity  Church,  Broadway,  opposite  Wall  Street,  built  1839-46.   R.  2. 

Bedford  Street  Church,  corner  of  Morton  Street,  built  1840.    R.  8. 

John  Street  Church,  between  William  and  Nassau  Streets,  successor 
to  the  oldest  Methodist  Church  in  America,  built  1841.    R.  7. 


Macomb  Mansion,  Broadway  and  Two  Hundred  and  Thirtieth 
Street,  built  1693.    R.  29. 

Van  Cortlandt  Mansion,  Van  Cortlandt  Park;  built  1748.    R.  29. 

Hunt  Mansion,  Hunt's  Point,  built  1688.    R.  31. 

Ferris  Mansion,  Westchester  County  Club  grounds,  near  Throgg's 
Neck.   Pre-Revolutionary.     R.  33. 

St,  Paul's  Church,  Eastchester,  built  1765.    R.  34a. 

St.  Peter's  Church,  Westchester,  on  the  site  of  the  church  of  1700. 


Fordhani  Manor  Reformed  Church,  Kingsbridge  Road  and  Aqueduct 
Avenue,  in  one  of  whose  vaults  Virginia  Poe,  wife  of  th^,  poet,  was 
buried.    R.  30a. 

Poe  Cottage,  Kingsbridge  Road,  Fordham.    R.  32. 


Schenck-Crooke  House,  Mill  Lane,  Flatlands,  built  about  1656.  R. 
40. 

Bergen  Homestead,  East  Seventy-second  Street,  Bergen  Beach, 
built  about  1655.    R-  40- 

Wyckoif  House,  Canarsie  Lane  and  Remsen  Place,  Canarsie,  built 
1664.   R.  41. 

Van  Pelt  Manor  House,  Eighty-first  Street  and  Eighteenth  Avenue, 
New  Utrecht,  built  about  1664.    R.  43. 

Van  Brunt  House,  1752  Eighty-fourth  Street,  built  about  1660.  R. 


Hicks-Platt  House,  Neck  Road,  Gravesend,  built  about  1660.  R. 
43a,  and  p.  265. 

Gerritsen  Tide  Mill,  Gcrritscn's  Creek,  near  Neck  Road,  on  the 
site  of  the  original  mill  of  1636.    R.  40. 
Schenck  House,  Canarsie  Park,  built  about  1770.    R.  41. 


THE  BRONX. 


R.  33  a. 


BROOKLYN. 


392 


Queens  HISTORIC  BUILDINGS  Richmond 

Old  Mill  (now  known  as  Van  Wicklcn  Mill),  Old  Mill  Village, 
New  Lots,  built  1770.    R.  41. 

Flatbiish  Dutch  Reformed  Church,  corner  of  Flatbush  and  Church 
Avenues,  built  1793-6,  on  the  site  of  the  oldest  church  in  Long  Island. 

R.  39. 

Erasmus  Hall  High  'School  (concealed  behind  new  structure).  Flat- 
bush  Avenue,  near  Erasmus  Street,  built  1786.    R.  39. 

VanDerveer  Homestead,  1159  Flatbush  Avenue,  built  1787  (98).  R. 
39. 

Fort  Lafayette  (old  Fort  Diamond),  the  Narrows,  built  about  1812. 
R.  42. 

Fort  Hamilton,  built  1825-31,  on  the  site  of  military  works  of  1808. 
R.  42. 

Biishivick  Dutch  Reformed  Church,  successor  to  the  first  church 
in  Bushwick,  built  1825.  R.  35c. 

St.  James  Pro-Cathedral,  Jay  and  Chapel  Streets,  first  Roman 
Catholic  church  on  Long  Island,  organized  1822.    R.  36. 

Borough  Hall,  built  for  a  City  Hall,  1836-40.    R.  36. 

QUEENS. 

Bozvne  House,  Flushing,  built  1655.    R.  51. 

Quaker  Meeting  House,  Flushing,  built  1694-5.    R.  5i- 

Garretson  House/'  Flushing,  built  before  1700.    R.  51. 

Moore  House,  Elmhurst,  built  about  1661.    R.  49. 

Corner  House,  Elmhurst,  built  1716.    R.  49. 

St.  James  Church,  Elmhurst,  built  1735.    R.  49. 

Moore  House,  Steinway,  built  1690-5.    R.  44. 

Riker  JJomestead,  Steinway,  built  before  1700.    R.  44. 

De  Witt  Clinton  House,  Maspeth,  built  1725.    R.  46. 

King  Mansion,  Jamaica,  built  about  1750.    R.  52. 

RICHMOND. 

Billopp  House,  Tottenville,  built  1688.    R.  60. 
Fountain  House,  New  Dorp,  built  before  1700.    R.  56. 
Guyon-Clarke  House,  New  Dorp.    R.  56. 
iMke-Tysen  House,  New  Dorp.  R.  56. 

393 


Richmond  HISTORICAL  GUIDE 

Moravian  Church  and  Parsonage,  New  Dorp,  built  1763.    R.  56. 

Black  Horse  Tavern,  New  Dorp,  pre-Revolutionary.    R.  56. 

St.  Andrew's  Church,  Richmond,  on  site  of  church  established  1708. 

R.  59. 

Purdy's  Hotel,  Princess  Bay,  built  about  1700.  R.  60a. 
Barne-Tysen  House,  Karles  Neck,  land  granted  in  1667.    R.  54. 
Christopher  Homestead,  Willow  Brook,  pre-Revolutionary.    R.  54. 
Austin  House,  Rosebank,  Stapleton,  built  about  1710.    R.  55. 
Garibaldi  House,  Stapleton.    R.  55. 

Forts  Wadsworth  and  Tompkins,  the  Narrows,  built  1847  on  site 
of  forts  of  War  of  1812.    R.  55. 
Danne/s  Hotel,  Port  Richmond,  built  about  1800.    R.  53. 
Kreuser-Pelton  House,  the  Cove,  West  New  Brighton,  built  1722. 

R.  53. 

Sailors*  Snug  Harbor,  West  New  Brighton,  built  1833.    R.  53. 

ADDENDA,  1912 
MANHATTAN. 

Schermerhorn  Farm  house,  East  River  and  Sixty-fourth  Street,  in 
the  Rockefeller  Institute  grounds;  built  1744.    R.  20. 

Smith's  Folly,  421  East  Sixty-first  Street,  built  1799.    R.  20. 
Shot  Tower,  foot  of  East  Fifty-third  Street,  built  1821.    R.  20. 
Mansion,  7  State  Street,  built  about  1800.    R.  i. 

Prime  House,  in  grounds  of  St.  Joseph's  Orphan  Asylum,  Eighty- 
nimn  Stree-  near  Avenue  A,  built  1800.    R.  20. 

Dyckman  House,  Broadway  and  Hawthorne  Avenue,  Inwood,  built 
1787.   R.  28b. 

BRONX. 

Hadley  House,  opposite  Van  Co*rtlandt  Park,  west  of  Broadway, 
before  1750.    R.  29a. 

Isaac  V avian  Homestead,  Bainbridge  and  Van  Cortlandt  Avenues, 
erected  in  1776.  Scene  of  an  encounter  between  the  patriots  and  the 
British  in  1770.    R.  30b. 

Washington's  Gun  House,  west  of  Webster  Avenue,  opposite  car 
barns,  north  of  City  Line.  General  Washington  stored  his  guns  here 
while  withdrawing  towards  White  Plains  in  1776.    R.  30b. 

Clasons  Point  Inn,  at  end  of  Clason's  Point.  Part  of  this  is  the  old 
hou^e  erected  by  Cornell,  the  first  settler,  in  1643.    R.  33. 

Old  Pell  Mansion,  also  known  as  the  Coudert  Mansion,  Wolf's  Lane, 
Pclham  Manor,  near  New  Rochelle  trolley.    R.  34. 


394 


APPENDIX  D 


MUSEUMS,  COLLECTIONS,  AND  LIBRARIES 
Of  special  interest  to  students  of  local  history 
Revised  1912 
AlANHATTAN 

American  Museum  of  Natural  History  (incorporated  1869),  Seventy- 
seventh  Street  and  Central  Park  West.  Open  free  every  day  in  the 
year  (on  week-days,  including  holidays,  from  9  to  5,  and  Sundays 
from  I  to  5,  also  Tuesday  and  Saturday  evenings  from  7  to  10).  Free 
lectures  Tuesday  and  Saturday,  8.15  p.m.,  October  to  April.  A  library 
of  60,000  volumes.  Collections  of  animals,  woods,  minerals,  gems,  and 
material  illustrating  the  customs  of  various  races.  The  Indian  relics 
found  in  the  upper  end  of  Manhattan,  the  Bronx  and  Richmond  are 
of  particular  interest  to  students  of  local  history. 

Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art  (incorporated  1870),  at  Fifth  Avenue 
and  Eight3^-second  Street,  in  Central  Park.  Open  free  Sunday,  1-6; 
Tuesday,  Wednesday,  Thursday;  10-5;  Saturday,  10-10;  Monday  and 
Friday,  10-5,  admission  25  cents.  The  collections  include  the  fine  arts 
and  decorative  or  'industrial  arts.  Among  the  collections  of  special 
interest  are  the  collection  of  Egyptian  art,  largely  material  recently 
excavated  in  Eg>'pt,  historically  arranged;  the  Hoentschal  Collection  of 
French  Gothic  and  eighteenth  century  decorative  arts ;  and  the  Morgan 
Collection  of  Chinese  porcelains.  The  Huntington  collection  of  like- 
nesses of  Washington,  Franklin,  and  Lafayette,  embracing  drawings, 
engravings,  prints,  busts,  faience,  medals,  and  cameos  is  of  particular 
interest  to  students  of  history.  Special  privileges  are  offered  to  teachers 
and  pupils  in  public  and  private  schools,  art  students,  and  craftsmen. 
On  application,  teachers  may  obtain  a  bulletin  giving  detailed  informa- 
tion concerning  the  practical  use  of  the  collection  for  classes  of  children. 

The  New  York  Aquarium,  Battery  Park.  Open  (free)  every  day 
in  the  year;  9-5,  April  15-October  15;  10-4,  October  16- April  14. 
Exhibits  of  fishes,  turtles,  crocodilians,  frogs,  salamanders,  marine 
mammals  and  invertebrates.  By  arrangement  with  the  Curator,  the 
casemates,  bomb  proof  and  other  traces  of  the  old  fort  may  be  seen. 

]\\ishington's  Headquarters,  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-second  Street, 
east  of  St.  Nicholas  Avenue.    Open  (free)  daily,  10-5.    Fitted  up  as 

395  ^ 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


a  Colonial  Museum :  under  the  care  of  the  Washington  Headquarters 
Association.    For  detailed  account  see  R.  23. 
Isliam  Mansion  in  Isham  Park;  see  p.  174. 

Municipal  Collections 

In  City  Hall,  City  Hall  Park.  Open  (free)  10-4  (except  holidays); 
Saturday,  10-12.  Trumbull's  Room:  portraits  of  Washington  and  for- 
mer governors ;  battle  llags ;  furniture  u>ed  by  the  officers  and  mem- 
bers of  the  first  Federal  Government.  Aldermanic  Chambers:  por- 
traits; ceiling  painting:  New  York  welcoming  the  Nations.  Mayors 
Reception  Office:  portraits  of  Lafayette  and  of  mayors  since  1783. 
City  Clerk's  Office,  Office  of  the  President  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen, 
Old  Council  Chamber  and  President's  Office:  Office  of  the  Municipal 
Art  Commission :  portraits  of  historic  persons  and  former  officials. 

County  Court  House,  City  Hall  Park:  Portraits. 

Comptroller's  Office,  Stewart  Building,  Chambers  Street  and  Broad- 
way: Portraits  of  Andrew  H.  Green  and  heroes  of  the  War  of  1S12. 

Corporation  Counsel's  Office,  Hall  of  Records:  Portraits. 

Criminal  Courts  Building,  Centre  and  Franklin  Streets  :  Allegorical 
mural  paintings,  portrait  of  Richard  Riker. 

Hall  of  Records,  Chambers  and  Centre  Streets:  Old  records,  dating 
back  to  the  Dutch  Period  and  early  maps  may  be  seen  on  application. 

Board  of  Education  Building,  Park  Avenue  and  Fifty-ninth  Street: 
Portraits  of  De  Witt  Clinton  and  former  members  of  the  Board  of 
Education.  Oil  painting,  "Am  I  My  Brother's  Keeper,"  presented, 
191 1,  by  Alfred  Mosely,  Esq. 

Appellate  Diz'ision  of  the  Supreme  Court,  First  Department,  Twenty- 
fifth  Street  and  Madison  Avenue :  Mural  paintings  in  the  vestibule  and 
Court  Room  :  Portraits. 

General  Post  Office  Lan'  Library,  City  Hall  Park :  Portraits  and 
tablets. 

State  Arsenal,  Seventh  Avenue  and  Thirty-fifth  Street:  W^ar  relics 
and  tablets  from  the  Elm  Street  Armory. 

PRIVATE  MUSEUMS  AND  COLLECTIONS 

American  Geographical  Society  (organized  1852),  One  Hundred  and 
Fifty-sixth  Street,  west  of  Broadway:  Early  maps,  copies  of  Valen- 
tine's Manual,  Annals  of  Albany,  histories  of  the  counties  of  New 
York,  documents  and  documentary  history  of  New  York.  Open  10-5, 
free. 


396 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


American  Numismatic  Society,  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-sixth  Street, 
west  of  Broadway.  Collection  of  coins  and  medals  of  all  countries 
and  all  ages,  and  a  large  numismatic  library.  Open  to  the  public, 
10  A.M.  to  5  P.M.  week  days,  1-5  p.m.  Sundays. 

Hispajiic _  Society  of  America,  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-sixth  Street, 
west  of  Broadway.  Open  (free)  daily,  including  Sundays,  1-5,  ex- 
cept August,  Christmas  and  Thanksgiving.  Library  open  to  holders 
of  readers'  cards,  10-5,  except  Sundays,  legal  holidays  and  the  month 
of  August.  ''A  free  museum  and  educational  institution  for  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  study  of  the  Spanish  and  Portuguese  language,  liter- 
ature and  history."  Spanish  paintings,  sculptures,  pottery,  metal  work, 
embroideries,  laces,  early  printed  books,  manuscripts,  early  maps. 

Fraunces  Tavern,  54  Pearl  Street  Open  (free)  daily,  under  the 
care  of  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution.  Collection  of  Revolutionary  relics, 
flags,  china,  coins,  medals,  military  commissions,  letters,  etc.  Ex- 
cursion VI. 

Cooper  Union  Museum  for  the  Arts  of  Decoration,  Cooper  Union, 
Astor  Place.  Open  (free)  daily  and  every  evening,  except  Saturday  and 
Sunday,  from  October  ist  to  May  ist,  between  7.30  and  9.3c  (secure 
pass  at  the  office),  except  Sunday  and  Monday;  closed  July  i-Septem- 
ber  13.  Collection  of  Colonial  furniture,  costumes,  needle-work  and 
relics  of  Peter  Cooper. 

Exempt  Firemen's  Organization,  10  JeflFerson  Market,  Sixth  Avenue 
and  Tenth  Street.  Open  (free)  daily.  Collection  of  old  fire  apparatus 
and  pictures. 

Volunteer  Firemen's  Association,  220  East  Fifty-ninth  Street.  Open 
(free)  daily.    Collection  01  old  fire  apparatus,  pictures  and  documents. 

Museum  of  the  Military  Service  Institution,  Governor's  Island.  Open 
(free)  daily,  except  Saturday  afternoon  and  Sunday.  Collection  of 
war  relics  and  historic  flags. 

Neii)  York  Historical  Society,  founded  1804,  170  Central  Park  West. 
Open  9-6,  open  to  the  public.    150,000  volumes  and  pamphlets  on  Ameri- 
can History.    Gallery  of  Art,  Abbot  Collection  of  Egyptian  Antiquities  ' 
and  Collection  of  Prints  and  Relics  of  the  City  of  New  York. 

Historical  Museum  of  the  College  of  the  City  of  New  York,  Con- 
vent Avenue  and  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-eighth  Street.  Open  (free) 
daily  during  the  college  year.    Collection  of  prints  and  maps. 

Middle  Dutch  Reformed  Church,  Second  .\venue  and  Seventh  Street. 
See  R.  II :  7. 

St.  Mark's-in-the-Bowery,  Second  Avenue  and  Eleventh  Street.  See 
R.  II :  2. 


397 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Collegiate  Church,  Fifth  Avenue  and  Forty-eighth  Street  (Lecture 
Room).    Prints  and  engravings.    R.  17:5. 

Brick  Presbyterian  Church,  Fifth  Avenue  and  Thirty-seventh  Street. 
Prints,  engravings,  etc.    R.  17:2. 

loJut  Street  Methodist  Church,  old  prints,  furniture,  books  of  John 
Wesley.    R.  7:  34. 

St.  Cornelius  Chapel,  Governor's  Island,  banners,  flags,  tablets. 
R.  4:  46. 

Methodist  Historical  Society,  Alethodist  Book  Concern,  Fifth  Avenue 
and  Twentieth  Street.  Relics  in  connection  with  Methodism  in  New 
York. 

Hotel  Astor,  Broadway  and  Forty-fifth  Street,  rare  prints  and  en- 
gravings of  old  New  York.    R.  18  B. 

Dolan's  Cafe,  33  Park  Rov/,  model  of  old  Park  Row.    R.  5:  15. 

Stewart's  Cafe,  161  Fulton  Street,  prints  and  cartooons.    R.  5  :  17. 

Britting's  Restaurant,  126  Greenwich  Avenue,  theatre  posters  and 
programmes.    R.  8:3. 

Hotel  Netherland,  Fifth  Avenue  and  Fifty-ninth  Street.  Paintings : 
"The  Purchase  of  Manhattan"  and  "Stuyvesant  Receiving  the  English 
Terms  of  Surrender." 

Hotel  Imperial,  Broadway  and  Thirtieth  Street.  Painting:  ''Bowling 
in  Bowling  Green." 

New  Amsterdam  Theatre,  214  West  Forty-second  Street.  Painting 
representing  the  reading  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence  to  the 
Army  on  the  Common,  July  9,  1776. 

De  Witt  Clinton  High  School,  Fifty-ninth  Street  and  Tenth  Avenue. 
Mural  paintings  in  connection  with  the  Erie  Canal.    R.  18 :  D. 

Republican  Club,  54  West  Fortieth  Street :  Prints,  cartoons  and  maps 
of  old  New  York.    P.  139. 

Cowperthwait's  Store,  Third  Avenue  and  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- 
first  Street:  Prints  of  old  New  York.    P.  173. 

LIBRARIES 

The  New  York  Public  Library,  476  Fifth  Avenue,  between  Fortieth 
and  Forty-seci:>nd  streets,  is  open  every  week  day,  including  holidays, 
from  9  A.M.  to  10  P.M.,  Sundays  from  i  to  10  p.m.  The  reference 
collection,  for  use  within  the  building,  numbers  over  1,126,000  volumes. 
Of  particular  historical  interest  are  the  works  on  American  State  and 
local  history,  over  19,200  volumes ;  3,600  volumes  of  American  gene- 
alogies:  600  of  British  genealogies;  3,790  of  American  historical  and 
patriotic  society  publications.    General  books  on  American  history  num- 

398 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


ber  i(X),ooo  volumes.  The  collection  of  liistorical  prints  is  of  great 
value.  Exhibitions  of  rare  books  and  prints  arc  held  at  frequent  in- 
tervals. 

For  circulation  four  rooms  in  the  central  building  and  forty  branch 
libraries  provide  over  860,000  volumes  for  home  use. 

The  circulation  branches  are  usually  open  from  9  a.m.  to  9  p.m. 
on  week  days;  most  are  open  on  holidays  and  several  on  Sundays. 

The  Travelling  Library  Office,  headquarters  in  the  central  building, 
entrance  on  Bryant  Park  and  Fortieth  Street,  will  arrange  to  make  up 
and  loan  (free  of  charge)  sets  of  books  on  various  subjects  for  the  use 
of  schools,  teachers  and  study  clubs. 

The  Library  for  the  Blind  (room  116,  central  building)  publishes  and 
circulates  books  in  raised  type. 

American  Jewish  Historical  Society  Library,  531-535  West  One  Hun- 
dred and  Twenty-third  Street,  open  to  members  and  their  friends.  Col- 
lection of  books,  prints,  relics  and  rare  manuscripts,  referring  mainly 
to  the  history  of  the  Jews  on  the  American  Continent. 

City  Library,  City  Hall.  Open  (free)  for  reference,  10-4;  Saturday, 
10-12.  Collection  of  city  records;  reports  and  various  municipal  pub- 
lications. 

Columbia  University,  Lotc;  Memorial  Library.  Open  8.30  a.m. -11  p.m. 
(8.30  A.M. -10  P.M.  in  summer)  daily,  except  Sunday;  closed  on  New  ^ 
Year's  Day,  Good  Friday,  Independence  Day,  Labor  Day,  Thanksgiving 
and  Christmas.  Free  for  inspection  ;  free  for  lending  to  students,  grad- 
uates and  officers  of  Columbia  University;  to  the  faculties  of  local 
colleges  and  universities  and  to  the  principals  and  heads  of  depart- 
ments of  the  New  York  high  schools ;  free  for  reference  to  such  persons 
in  the  cities  of  New  York,  Brooklyn,  and  Newark  as  may  be  introduced 
by  the  librarians  of  the  public  libraries  of  those  places.  The  collection 
includes  450  titles  on  local  history,  embracing  some  of  the  rarest  books 
and  prints  and  2,500  Dc  Witt  Clinton  letters.  The  Holland  Society  has 
deposited  here  its  valuable  collection  of  books  on  the  early  history  and 
settlement  of  this  country  by  the  Dutch.  The  collection  of  Columbiana  ^ 
is  rich  in  material  relating  to  the  history  of  New  York  City  and  of 
Columbia  University. 

Cooper  Union  Library,  Astor  Place.  Open  (free)  daily.  8  a.m.- 10 
P.M. ;  Sunday,  October  to  May,  12  M.-9  p.m.    Books  for  reference  only. 

General  Society  of  Mechanics  and  Tmdesmen,  16-24  West  Forty- 
fourth  Street.    Open  9-8.    Reference  department  free  to  the  public. 

Huguenot  Society  of  America,  29  West  Thirty-ninth  Street.  Books 
relating  to  Huguenot  history  and  genealogy. 

399  % 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Mercantile  Library,  Astor  Place  and  Eighth  Street.  Open  to  sub- 
scribers.   General  collection  of  245,000  volumes. 

Neic  York  Genealogical  and  Biographical  Society,  Genealogical  Hall, 
226  West  Fifty-eighth  Street.  Library  open  daily,  except  Sunday,  10-6; 
Monday  evening,  8-10.  Admission  through  member's  card.  Collection 
of  New  York  town  and  county  histories ;  military  records ;  records  of 
wills;  indexes  to  conveyances;  collections  of  copies  of  New  York 
church  records ;  files  of  the  Genealogical  and  Biographical  Record 
from  1869. 

Nezv  York  Society  Library,  109  University  Place,  near  Twelfth  Street. 
Open  9-6.  Free  to  the  public  for  reference.  Files  of  eighteen  New 
York  newspapers;  rare  prints;  laws  of  New  York  from  1694;  all  the 
well-known  histories  and  guide-books  of  New  York;  nearly  all  the 
New  York  directories;  reports  of  institutions,  clubs  and  city  depart- 
ments. 

See  also  mention  above  of  libraries  of  the  American  Geographical 
Society;  American  Numismatic  Society;  Hispanic  Society  of  America; 
Methodist  Historical  Society  and  New  York  Historical  Society. 

THE  BRONX 

Botanical  (harden,  Bronx  Park  (R.  32).  Reached  by  Harlem  Division, 
N.  Y.  C.  &  H.  R.  R.  R.  to  Bronx  Park  or  Bronx  Park  Subway  train 
to  One  Hundred  and  Forty-ninth  Street  and  (free)  transfer  to  the 
Elevated  R.  R.  to  Bronx  Park.  Open  (free)  daily;  buildings  open 
10-4.  Exhibits — in  the  grounds :  Hardy  herbaceous  plants,  shrubs, 
trees,  and  natural  woodlands.  In  the  Conservatories :  Tropical  and 
warm  temperate  zone  plants.  In  the  Museums :  Plan  products  utilized 
in  the  arts,  sciences,  and  industries ;  illustrations  of  the  natural  families 
of  plants ;  plants  growing  naturally  within  one  hundred  miles  of  New 
York;  fossil  plants;  library;  herbaria;  laboratories.  Lectures  on  Sat- 
urday afternoons,  April  to  November.  A  docent  will  explain  the 
exhibits,  leaving  the  museum  at  3  p.m. 

Lorillard  Mansion  Museum,  Bronx  Park,  east  of  the  Botanical 
Garden  (R.  32).  Open  (free)  11-5  daily.  Under  the  care  of  the  Bronx 
Society  of  Arts  and  Sciences.  Collection  of  natural  specimens  of  the 
borough;  specimens  illustrative  of  the  industries,  educational  features 
and  park  system  of  the  Bronx ;  Indian,  Colonial  and  Revolutionary 
relics ;   historical   photographs  and  rare  prints :  a  reference  library. 

Zoological  Garden,  Bronx  Park  (R.  32).  Reached  by  the  Lenox 
Avenue  Subway  to  One  Hundred  and  Eightieth  Street,  West  Farms, 

400 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


or  by  the  Third  Avenue  Elevated  R.  R.  to  Fordham  Road  ;  trolley  to 
entrance.  Under  the  care  of  the  New  York  Zoological  Society.  Open 
daily  9  to  half  hour  before  sunset  in  summer,  after  10  in  winter.  P^'ree 
except  on  Monday  and  Thursday  (25c.)  ;  when  a  holiday  falls  on 
Monday  or  Thursday,  the  fee  is  remitted,  but  is  charged  on  the  day 
following. 

Van  Cortlandt  Mansion,  Van  Cortlandt  Park  (R.  29).  Open  (free) 
daily  except  Sunday,  10-6;  Thursday,  25c.  Under  the  care  of  the 
Colonial  Dames  of  the  State  of  New  York.  Rooms  fitted  up  in  Colonial 
style;  a  collection  of  Revolutionary  and  Colonial  relics. 

New  York  University  Museum,  under  the  Hall  of  Fame  (R.  30). 
Open  (free)  daily  during  the  college  year. 

Nezij  York  University  General  Library.  Open  daily,  free  on  proper 
introduction. 

BROOKLYN 

Central  Museum  of  the  Brooklyn  Institute  of  Arts  and  Sciences, 
Eastern  Parkway  and  Washington  Avenue  (R.  38).  Open  week  days, 
9-6;  Thursday  evening,  7.30-9.45;  Sunday,  2-6;  free  except  Monday  and 
Tuesday  (if  these  are  not  holidays),  when  there  is  a  fee  of  25c.  for 
adults  and  loc.  for  children  under  sixteen.  Collections  in  natural 
sciences ;  paintings ;  sculptures ;  historical  casts,  races  and  customs  of 
men,  etc. 

Children's  Museum  of  the  Brooklyn  Institute  of  Arts  and  Sciences, 
Bedford  Park,  on  Brooklyn  Avenue.  Open  (free)  daily,  9-5.30;  Sun- 
days, 2-5.30.  Collections  pertain  to  natural  history,  local  history,  occu- 
pations of  man  and  an  extensive  children's  library  on  these  subjects. 
See  R.  38:  12. 

Hall  of  Records:  Collection  of  portraits  of  recorders  and  other 
officials. 

County  Court  House:  Portraits  of  Supreme  Court  justices  and  other 
judges. 

Borough  Hall:  Portraits  of  mayors  of  the  former  City  of  Brooklyn. 

Long  Island  Historical  Society,  Clinton  and  Pierrepont  Streets.  See 
R.  36:6.    Open  (free)  daily. 

U.  S.  Naval  Museum,  Navy  Yard,  entrance  Navy  Yard,  opposite  Sands 
Street.  Library  and  historical  relics  in  the  U.  S.  Naval  Museum. 
Pp.  243,  264. 

Plymouth  Church,  on  Orange,  between  Hicks  and  Henry  streets. 
Memorial  windows,  battle  flags,  etc.    Pp.  241,  264. 

401  ^ 


HISTORICAL  GUIDE 


Libraries 

Brooklyn  Public  Library,  central  office,  26  Brevoort  Place.  Circu- 
lating branches  in  all  parts  of  the  borough.  Open  (free)  daily,  9-9. 
Sunday,  2-6. 

The  Department  of  Travelling  Libraries,  67-69  Schermerhorn  Street. 
This  Department  lends  collections  of  books  free  of  charge  to  clubs, 
schools,  factories,  societies,  etc.,  within  the  Borough  limits ;  gives  worn 
books  to  hospitals,  kindergartens,  etc. 

Catholic  Historical  Library,  loi  Greene  Avenue. 

Long  Island  Historical  Society,  Clinton  and  Pierrepont  streets.  Open 
8.30  A.M. -9.30  P.M.  Reference  only  for  members  and  those  introduced 
by  members.  Collection  of  70,000  volumes  largely  on  local  history  and 
genealogy. 

Pratt  Institute  Free  Library,  Ryerson  Street,  between  De  Kalb  and 
Willoughby  avenues.  Open  week  days,  9  a.m. -9.30  p.m.  Collection 
of  100,000  volumes. 

QUEENS 

Boivne  House,  Flushing.  Admission  25c.;  six  people  only  allowed 
at  a  time ;  larger  parties  must  arrange  in  advance  with  ]N-iss  Parsons, 
371  Broadway,  Flushing.  In  winter  house  not  open  to  visitors.  See 
R.  51:  14^ 

King  Mansion,  lamaica.  Open  (free)  ^Monday;  other  days  by  special 
arrangement  with  Mrs.  William  S.  Cogswell,  Pres.,  King  ]\Ianor  Asso- 
ciation, 31  Clinton  Avenue,  Jamaica.    R.  52:6. 

Queens  Borough  Public  Library,  central  office,  402  Fulton  Street, 
Jamaica.  Circulating  branches  in  various  parts  of  the  borough.  Usually 
open  daily  (except  Sunday),  9-9. 

RICHMOND 

Public  Museum  of  the  Siaten  Island  Association  of  Arts  and  Sciences, 
154  Stuyvesant  Place,  St.  George.  Open  (free)  daily  except  Sunday. 
Collections  of  natural  history,  geology,  archeology,  art,  etc.  Especially 
rich  in  States  Island  historical  and  Indian  relics,  and  local  biology. 
R.  53:  I. 

Billopp  House,  Tottenville.   R.  69 :  107. 


402 


APPENDIX    E.— HISTORIC   TREES,    ROCKS    AND  OTHER 

OBJECTS. 


MANHATTAN. 

Two  English  Yews  in  front  of  the  Low*Memorial  Library,  Colum- 
bia University,  said  to  have  been  brought  from  England  about  1800 
and  set  out  in  St.  John's  Park;  later  removed  to  the  Elgin  Botanical 
Garden  at  Fiftieth  Street  (R.  17)  ;  removed  to  the  Bloomingdale 
Asylum  grounds  and  replanted  at  their  present  site  in  1897. 

The  IVistaria  vines  frequently  seen  in  Greenwich  (R.  8)  are  said 
to  be  descendants  of  those  in  Dr.  Hosack's  Arboretum  in  the  Elgin 
Garden. 

A  stunted  English  oak  on  the  northwest  side  of  the  Mall,  in  Cen- 
tral Park,  was  placed  here  by  the  Prince  of  Wales  (now  Edward 
VII)  while  here  in  i860. 

A  number  of  trees  remain  in  East  River  Park  imported  from 
China  and  Japan  by  Thomas  Hogg  (R.  20)  ;  some  have  been  removed 
to  Central  Park,  among  them  the  Japanese  elm  near  the  gate  at 
Fifth  Avenue  and  Seventy-second  Street. 

Some  of  the  trees  in  Washington  Square  are  survivors  of  those  set 
out  when  this  was  a  Parade  (R.  10). 

A  double  row  of  trees  in  Madison  Square  formerly  lined  the  eastern 
branch  of  the  Post  Road  (R.  15). 

In  the  churchyards  of  Trinity,  St.  Paul's  and  St.  ^Mark's  Churches 
are  trees  dating  back  to  the  first  part  of  the  last  century. 

Many  old  trees  remain  in  Union  and  Stuyvesant  Squares  and  in 
Gramercy  Park. 

The  Sparrows'  Lodging  House  on  the  north  side  of  East  One  Hun- 
dred and  Twenty-fifth  Street,  near  First  Avenue  (old  Harlem  Lane), 
seems  to  be  a  favorite  haunt  of  these  birds. 

The  giant  tulip  at  Cold  Spring  (R.  28)  is  considerably  over  one 
hundred  years  old.  There  remains  some  of  the  primeval  forest  near 
by  at  the  northern  end  of  Manhattan  on  the  hill  overlooking  the 
Hudson. 


403 


Manhattan  HISTORICAL    GUIDE  The  Bronx 


Trees  That  Have  Disappeared. 

The  Stuyvesant  Pear  Tree,  once  at  the  corner  of  Thirteenth  Street 
and  Third  Avenue,  now  commemorated  by  a  tablet  (R.  ii).  Portions 
of  this  famous  tree  are  preserved  in  the  Governor's  Room,  City  Hall, 
Police  Headquarters  and  in  the  New  York  Historical  Society  Build- 
ing. A  descendant  of  the  original  tree  from  a  graft  obtained  by 
Jesse  Ryder  about  i860  may  be  seen  on  the  Ryder  farm  near  Ossining. 

The  Van  Beuren  Tree  stood  until  recently  in  front  of  the  Van 
Beuren  Mansion  on  the  north  side  of  Fourteenth  Street  (R.  14). 

The  Varian  Tree  used  to  stand  on  Broadway  between  Twenty-sixth 
and  Twenty-seventh  Streets. 

The  Thirteen  Trees  (sweet  gum  or  liquid  amber)  brought  from 
Mt.  Vernon,  Va.,  by  Hamilton  about  1802  remained  on  Convent  Ave- 
nue and  One  Hundred  and  Forty-third  Street  until  all  died  and  were 
finally  removed  in  1908  (R.  23). 

The  grand  old  elm "  (variously  located  by  different  writers,  but 
probably  at  Striker's  Bay,  near  the  Hudson  at  Ninety-sixth  Street), 
which  inspired  George  P.  Morris  to  write  the  lines  beginning  "  Wood- 
man, spare  that  tree,"  was  cut  down  only  recently  (R.  -8). 

It  is  related  that  a  favorite  tree  on  the  farm  of  Hendrick  Brevoort 
prevented  the  cutting  through  of  Eleventh  Street  between  Broadway 
and  Fourth  Avenue.    (R.  14). 

THE  BRONX 

The  Cowboy  Oak  at  the  end  of  Two  Hundred  and  Thirty-seventh 
Street,  west  of  the  Spuyten  Duyvil  Parkway,  is  alleged  to  have 
been  the  scene  of  hangings  during  the  Revolution  (R.  29). 

The  Washington  Chestnut  on  Valentine  Lane,  now  partially  de- 
stroyed, is  said  to  have  been  used  by  Washington  as  a  place  of  conceal- 
ment (R.  29). 

The  stump  of  the  Delanccy  Pine  still  remains  in  Bronx  Park  (R.  34a). 

The  IloDce  Chestnut  under  which  the  British  general  is  said  to 
have  lunched,  still  stands  near  the  Pell  Mansion  (R.  34). 

The  Spy  Oak  of  Revolutionary  lore  is  near  Westchester  (R.  33a). 

The  Pell  Treaty  Oak,  now  nearly  destroyed,  is  near  the  Bartow 
Mansion  (R.  34). 


404 


HISTORIC  TREES  AND  ROCKS 


Hemlock  Grove  in  the  Botanical  Garden,  Bronx  Park,  is  the  oldest 
forest  of  native  hemlocks  in  this  part  of  the  State  (R.  32). 


BROOKLYN. 

Amusketahole,'*  a  white  oak  marking  the  boundary  line  between 
Flatlands  and  Flatbush;  on  Avenue  G,  near  Flatlands  Neck  Road. 
R.  40. 

QUEENS. 

The  Maurice  Woods,  east  of  Maspeth,  was  the  only  extensive  wood- 
land of  Newtown  to  escape  the  ravages  of  the  British  when  quartered 
in  this  part  of  Long  Island. 

The  forest  once  covering  what  is  now  Forest  Park  and  Cypress 
Hills  Cemetery,  was  reserved  as  hunting  grounds  for  the  Indians  in 
their  deed  to  Middelburg  (R.  50). 

The  site  of  Fox  Oaks  in  Flushing  is  marked  by  a  tablet  (R.  51). 

NOTED   ROCKS  AND  CAVES. 
MANHATTAN. 

The  Capske  Rocks  near  Whitehall  Ferry,  now  under  made  land 
and  revealed  when  the  South  Ferry  Subway  Station  was  constructed. 
R.  I. 

The  Smuggler's  Cave  was  near  the  East  River  shore  about  Seven- 
tieth Street.    R.  20. 

Marco  Bozzaris  Rock  just  north  of  Washington's  Headquarters  on 
West  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-second  Street,  where  it  is  said  Fitz- 
Greene  Halleck  composed  his  famous  poem.    R.  23.  * 

Point  of  Rocks  about  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-sixth  Street  and 
Convent  Avenue  (now  largely  cut  away  for  street  improvements),  an 
outlook  for  Washington's  sentinels  in  1776.    R.  19. 

Indian  Rock  Shelter  at  Cold  Spring,  within  which  many  remains  of 
Indians  have  recently  been  discovered.    R.  28b. 

The  Death  Gap  Rocks,  Fort  Washington,  Bennett  Avenue  (One 
Hundred  and  Eighty-fourth  Street),  west  of  Broadway.    R.  24. 

405 


The  Bronx 


HISTORICAL    GUIDE      Historic  Objects 


THE  BRONX. 

Glacial  Boulder  in  front  of  the  Division  Engineer's  Office  near  the 
High  Pressure  Pumping-station  of  Jerome  Park  Reservoir.    R.  30a. 
Rocking  Stone,  south  end  of  Bronx  Park.    R.  32. 
Glover's  Rock,  near  Bartow,  on  scene  of  the  Battle  of  Pell's  Point. 

R.  34. 

split  Rock,  near  the  home  of  Ann  Hutchinson,  not  far  from  Pelham 
Manor.    R.  34. 

Pudding  Rock,  until  recently  on  Boston  Road  and  One  Hundred 
and  Sixty-sixth  Street.    R.  32. 

Seton  Cave  and  the  Indian  Hiding  Place  near  Eastchester.  R. 
34a. 

The  Devil's  Stepping  Stones  jutting  out  in  the  Sound.    R.  34. 
Rocks  m  East  River  at  Hell  Gate.    R.  20. 
Diamond  Reef  in  the  Narrows.    R.  42. 

HISTORIC  OBJECTS. 

Revolutionary  Cannon:  (i)  Battery  Park;  placed  here  by  the  City 
History  Club,  R.  i;  (2)  at  Pearl  Street  opposite  Cedar  Street,  R.  7; 
(3)  at  Peck  Slip  and  Water  Street,  R.  7;  (4)  Old  Slip,  p.  38;  (5) 
Central  Park,  p.  146;  (6)  Van  Cortlandt  Park,  p.  182. 

Dutch  Millstones  at  the  rear  of  18  South  William  Street,  R.  3. 

Millstones  and  Sundial  in  Van  Cortlandt  Park,  R.  29. 

Dutch  Millstone  in  sidewalk  opposite  437  Jackson  Avenue  near 
North  Plaza  of  Queensboro  Bridge,  Long  Island  City ;  from  Brou- 
chard  grist  mill  formerly  on  Dutch  Kills  Creek,  brought  from  Hol- 
land about  1657. 

Old  Church  Bells:  (i)  in  the  churchyard  of  the  Marble  Collegiate 
Dutch  Reformed  Church,  Twenty-ninth  Street  and  Fifth  Avenue,  R.  15  ; 
(2)  in  the  steeple  of  the  Fifth  Avenue  Dutch  Reformed  Church  at 
Forty-eighth  Street,  R.  17;  (3)  in  the  Dutch  Reformed  Church  at  One 
Hundred  and  Twenty-third  Street  and  Lenox  Avenue,  R.  22;  (4)  in 
St.  Mary's  Roman  Catholic  Church  at  Ridge  and  Grand  Streets,  R.  13; 
(5)  in  garden,  St.  George's  Church,  p.  loi. 

Doliola,  sun  dial  and  marble  scat  from  Italy  in  Grace  Churchyard 
on  Broadway  and  Tenth  Street,  R.  14. 

Pompeiian  Columns  at  the  entrance  to  Delmonico's  at  Bcnver  and 
South  William  Streets,  R.  3. 

Cleopatra's  Needle  in  Central  Park. 

406 


HISTORIC  OBJECTS 


ADDENDA,  1912. 

Revolutionary  earthworks  still  visible  in  Manhattan:  (i)  Fort  Clin- 
ton, R.  21;  (2)  Fort  Washington,  R.  24;  (3)  Fort  Washington  Point, 
R.  25;  (4)  Fort  Tryon  R.  26;  (5)  near  Fort  George,  R.  23. 

Parts  of  iron  railing  from  balcony  of  Federal  Hall:  (i)  on  front  of 
main  building,  Bellevue  Hospital.  R.  15;  (2)  in  New  York  Historical 
Society,  R.  17. 

Old  City  ]Vell,  Trinity  Place  and  Thames  Street.    R.  6. 

Old  Fire  Toiler,  Mt.  Morris  Park.    R.  22. 

Manhattan  Water  Tank,  Center  and  Reade  Streets.    R.  12. 


407 


INDEX 


Abbey,  the,  167. 

Abingdon  Road,  115. 

Abingdon  Square,  73. 

Academy  of  Music,  109. 

African  Company,  370. 

Albany  Post  Road,  147,  181,  372. 

Alburtis  House,  288. 

Allen,  Ethan,  54. 

Allerton,  Isaac,  Warehouse,  64. 

All  Saints'  Church,  gg. 

Ambleside,  198. 

American  Jewish  Hist.  See,  139. 
American  Museum  of  Natural  His- 
tory, 120. 
Amiable  Child,  Tomb,  127. 
Amity  Street,  81. 
Amusketahole  Tree,  251. 
Anderson  Mansion,  187. 
Androvette  House,  3. so. 
Anthon's  Grammar  School,  59. 
Appellate  Court  House,  iii. 
Apthorp  Mansion,  123. 
Apthorp  Lane,  129,  130. 
Aquarium,  33. 
Arbitration  Rock,  289. 
Archer  House,  189. 
Arnhem  X'illage  27,?.  287. 
Arrochar,  338. 

Arsenal  in  Central  Park,  120. 

Arthur,  Chester  A.,  Home,  112. 

Artillery  Park,  133. 

Aspinwall  House,  Flushing,  306. 

Assay  Office,  U.  S.,  28. 

Astor,  \Vm.,  First  Home,  83. 

Astor  House,  59. 

Astor  Library,  93. 

Astor  Place  Opera  House,  93. 

Astoria,  275,  281. 

Astoria  Methodist  Church,  283. 

Audubon,  Home,  153. 

Audubon  Park,  i.S3. 

Austin  House,  337. 


Baisley*s  Mill  Pond,  313. 
Bank  of  New  York,  28. 
Baretto,  Francis  J.,   Former  Home, 
196. 

Baretto's  Point,  196. 
Bark  Mill.  31. 
Barnard  College,  125. 
Barne-Tvsen  House,  334. 
Barnum*^s  Museum,  57. 
Barracks  of  181 2,  73. 
Barton  House,  344. 


Bartow  Mansion,  210. 
Bathgate  House,  190,  199. 
Battery,  33. 
Battery  Flagstaff,  34. 
Battery  Place,  15. 

Battle  of  Harlem  Heights,  125,  129. 
Battle  of  Harlem  Heights  Memorial 

Window,  125. 
Battle  of  Long  Island,  22s. 
Battle  of  Pell's  Point,  176,  209. 
Battle  Pass  Tablet,  245. 
Bayard  Farm,  95. 
Bayard  House,  73. 
Beadell  Homestead,  232. 
Bear  Market,  60. 
Bear  Swamp,  213. 
Beaver  Pond,  310. 
Beaver  Street,  31. 
Bedell  House,  345. 
Bedford  Street  Methodist  Church,  76. 
Bedloe's  Island,  35. 
Beecher,    Henry   \\'ard,  Memorial, 

264. 

Beecher,  Henry  Ward,  Statue,  242. 

Beekman  Hill,  133. 

Beckman  House,  133. 

Beekman  Place,  133. 

Belden  Mansion,  209. 

Bellevue  Hospital,  113. 

Belmont  Hall,  328. 

Benham  Mansion,  345;. 

Bennett  Houses,  164,  23  t,  251. 

Bennett-Schermerhorn  House,  257. 

Benson  House,  260. 

Bentley  Manor,  349. 

Bergen  Beach,  263. 

Bergen  Homesteads,  248,  249,  262, 

264,  313. 
Berrian  Burying  Ground,  182. 
Berrian,   Cornelius,   Farm  Houses, 

185,  28.S. 
Berrien's  Lane,  28."?. 
'Beth  Haim,"  108,  112. 
Retts  Homestead,  Maspeth.  288. 
Bctt's  House,  190. 
Billopp  House,  349. 
Birdsall  House,  247. 
"Black  Cat,"  The,  80. 
Black  Horse  Tavern,  167,  341. 
Black  Rock,  204. 
Black  Swamp,  199. 
Blackwell  Mansion  Homestead,  283. 
Black  well's  Island,  136,  281. 
Blake-Miller  House,  334. 
Blazing  Star,  347. 


INDEX 


Blind  Man's  Alley,  64. 
Block-house,  Flushing,  304. 
Block-house  No.  I,  146. 
Block-house  No.  Ill,  126. 
Blommaert's  Vly,  31. 
Bloodgood  Homestead,  316, 
Bloom  Farm  House,  300. 
Bloomfield,  Daniel,  Home,  298. 
Bloomingdale,  9,  121. 
Bloomingdale  Asylum,  125. 
Bloomingdale  Dutch  Reformed 

Church,  123. 
Bloomingdale  Road,  8. 
Bloomingdale  Square,  124. 
Blue  Bell  Tavern,  161. 
Blythe,  196. 

Board  of  Education  Building,  120. 

Bodine's  Inn,  333. 

Bogardus,  Dominie,  House,  20, 

Bogardus,  Dominie,  Farm,  77. 

Bone  Alley,  92. 

Booth's  Theatre,  112. 

Borough  Hall,  Brooklyn,  242. 

Borough  Hall,  Richmond,  327. 

Boston  Post  Road,  372,  181. 

Botanical  Gardens,  201,  400. 

Botanical  Museum,  201,  400. 

Bouwerie  House,  91. 

Bouwerie  Lane,  7,  95. 

Bouwerie  Village,  89. 

Bowery  Bay,  279- 

Bowery  Cemetery,  314. 

Bowery  Graveyard,  91. 

Bowery,  The,  95. 

Bowery  Theatre,  97. 

Bowery  \'illage  Church,, 373. 

Bowling  Green,  3,  17. 

Bowne    Homestead,  Flushing,  306. 

Bowne  Houses,  207,  215,  309. 

Bowne  Store,  207. 

Bozzaris,  Marco,  Rock,  157. 

Bradford.  William,  30. 

Bradley  Farm  House,  154. 

Brannon  Garden,  76. 

Brettoniere  House,  302. 

Brevoort  House.  134. 

Brick  Presuyterian  Church,  57,  117. 

Bridewell.  .^4. 

Bridge  of  Sighs,  98. 

Bridge  Street,  31. 

Brielle  Homestead,  314. 

Brigg's  House,  201. 

Brigiitside,  198. 

British  Battery,  Flushing,  304. 

British  Beacon,  304. 

British  Camps,   170,    171,   291,  300, 

302,  344. 
British  Earthworks,   1 54. 
British  Fort,  352. 

British  Headquarters,  300,  324,  341. 

Britton  House,  341. 

Britton  Mill,  330. 

Broad  Street,  6. 

Broadway,  s. 

Broderick  Ilouse,  7s,  83. 

l)ronck.  Jonas,  Home,  19.'^. 

I'.RO.XX  BOROl'GH,  176. 

Bronx,  Historical  Sketch,  176. 


Bronx  Park,  201. 
Bronx  River,  203. 
Bronxdale,  213, 
BROOKLYN,  225. 
Brooklyn  Heights,  241. 
Brooklyn  Institute,  245. 
Brewer's  ]\Iill,  257. 
Bryant  Park,  117. 

Bryant,  William  Cullen,  Home,  107. 
Buckhorn  Tavern,  112. 
Bull's  Head  Tavern,  59,  112,  373. 
Bull's  Head  Village,  112. 
Bunker  Hill,  95. 
Burger's  Sluice,  277. 
Burn's  Coffee  House,  is. 
Burr,  Aaron,   Homes,  etc.,   61,  62, 
330. 

Burroughs  Houses,  294,  301. 

Bushwick,  232-234. 

BUSTS  AND  STATUES:  see  Ap- 
pendix B,  p.  377,  and  under  proper 
names. 

Butler's  Hotel,  333. 


Calamus  Road,  288,  302. 
Calumet  Hall,  157. 
Calvary  Cemetery,  295. 
Calyer  Homestead,  231. 
Camp  Hill,  341, 
Camp  of  Laurel  Hill,  155. 
Canarsie,  253. 
Canarsie  Lane,  251. 
Cannon  Point,  133. 
Capske  Rocks,  20. 
Carey  Sisters'  Home,  no. 
Carll's  Mill,  204. 
Carrigan  House,  125. 
Cassanova  Mansion,  196. 
Casseltowne  Manor,  329. 
Case's  Crew,  288. 
Castle  Bogardus,  281. 
Castle  Garden,  33. 
Castle  Hill,  203"." 
Castle  Stevens,  281. 
Castle  Williams,  35,  38. 
Castleton  Hotel,  327. 
Cathedral   of  St.  John  the  Divine, 
125. 

Catimut's  Windmill,  65. 

Cato's  Road  House,  373. 

Cedar  Grove  Cemetery,  308. 

Cedar  Point,  165. 

Cement  House,  328. 

Cemetery,  N.  Y.  City  Marble,  92. 

Cemetery.  N.  Y.  Marble,  92. 

Central  Bridge,  187. 

Central  l*ark,  119,  120,  I4.'5. 

"Century"  House,  170. 

Chamber  of  Commerce,  26,  28,  61. 

Chambers  Street,  55. 

Chapel  of  St.  Cornelius,  35;. 

Chateauneuf  Residence,  193. 

("hatham  Garden,  6=;. 

Chatham  Square,  9s,  97. 

Chelsea  Cottages.  116. 

Cherry  Garden,  64. 

Cherry  Hill,  64. 


410 


INDEX 


Cherry  Lane,  iq6. 

Cherry  Street,  64. 

Chelsea,  115. 

Chelsea  Square.  116. 

Children's  Museum,   Brooklyn,  245. 

Christopher  Homestead,  3.13. 

Christopher  Street  Square,  82. 

Ciirist's  Church,  66. 

Churches,  see  under  name  of. 

Citizen  Genet,  Seat  of,  313. 

City  Hall,  Dutch,  19,  30. 

City  Hall,  English,  26. 

City  Hall,  Present,  53. 

City  Island,  joq. 

City  Library,  53. 

Claremont.  The,  127. 

Classon's  Point,  203,  204. 

Cleopatra's  Needle,  120. 

Clermont  Terrace,  2q8. 

Clinch  Homestead,  339- 

Clinton,  DeW'itt,  House,  S7.  287. 

Clinton,  DeW'itt  Statues,  21,  61. 

Clinton  Hall,  93. 

Cobweb  Hall,  98. 

Cock  Hill.  172. 

Coe  Farm  House,  204. 

Coenties  Alley  and  Slip,  30. 

Coe's  Mill,  294. 

Coffee  House,  Burns',  15. 

Coffee  House,  Merchants',  29. 

Coffee  House  Slip,  29. 

Coffee  House,  Tontine,  29. 

Cold  Spring,  172. 

Colden  Estate,  308. 

Cole  House,  342. 

Coleman's  Point,  329. 

Collect  Pond.  78,  95- 

College  Place,  .^9. 

College  Point,  275.  , 

College  of  the  City   of  New  York, 

112,  151,  173- 

Collegiate  Dutch  Reformed  Church, 

61,  119- 
Collegiate  School,  122. 
Collins  House,  211. 
Colonial  Hall,  Jamaica,  312. 
Colonnade  Row,  93. 
Columbia  College,  :;9,  119,  125. 
Columbia  Heights,  241. 
Columbus  Memorial,  119. 
Columbus  Park,  102. 
Commission  of  1807.  9. 
Common  Field.  Middleburg,  293. 
Company's  Farm,  8. 
Coney  Island,  261. 
Conkling,  Roscoe,  Statue,  in. 
Conselyea  House,  234. 
Cooper,  Peter,  Houses  and  Factory. 

113,  232.  233. 
Cooper.  Peter.  Statue,  93. 
Cooper  Union,  93,  loi. 
Corbin,  Margaret,  161,  167. 
Corlcar's  Hook  Park,  99- 
Cornelissen.  Peter.  Mill,  292. 
Corner  House,  Newtown,  301. 
Corona,  293. 

Corona  Avenue,  294. 

Corpus  Christi  Monastery,  196. 


Corsen  House,  330,  334,  351. 
Corsen-Ives  House,  333. 
Cortelyou  Houses,  258,  341,  345. 
Cortelyou-X'anderveer  Ilouse,  248. 
(^ortlandt's  I'pper  House,  185. 
County  Clerk's  Office,  Richmond, 
344. 

County  Court  House.  55. 

Court  House,  Jamaica,  312. 

Couwenhoven  House,  260. 

Cowboy  Oak,  183,  185. 

Cox.  Samuel  S.,  Statue,  93. 

Cox's  Tavern,  181. 

Crab  Island,  154. 

Crawford  Tavern,  21s. 

Crocheron  Houses,  334. 

Cromwell  F"arm  Houses,  187,  201. 

Croton  Aqueduct,  117. 

Crowther  Homestead,  213. 

Cross  Keys  Tavern,  153. 

Cruger  Mansion,  107. 

Cubberly  House,  342. 

Cuckoldstowne,  343,  344. 

Cumberson  House,  \\'oodside,  292. 

Curtis,  Cieorge  William,  House,  329. 

Curtis  High  School,  327. 

Custom  House,  3,  19,  29. 

Cuyler  Sugar  House,  65. 


Danner's  Hotel,  330. 
Day's  Tavern,  126. 
Death  Gap,  161. 

Debevoise  Homesteads,  234,  288. 
Decker  House,  330. 
DeGroot  House,  329. 
DeHart  House,  331. 
DeHart- Bergen  House,  257. 
Delancey  Blockhouse,  213. 
Delancey  House,  60. 
Delancey  Pine,  213. 
Delancey  Square,  95;. 
Delancey  Street,  95. 
Demilt  Avenue,  193. 
Delmonico  Building,  32. 
Denton's  Mill,  257. 
Denyse's  Ferry,  2^8. 
DePeyster,  Abraham,  17,  62. 
DeSille  House,  259. 
Devil's  Stepping  Stones.  210. 
Devoe  Cottage,  189. 
Devoe  House.  Bushwick,  234 
Devoe's  Point,  187. 
De  \'oor  F'arm  House.  134. 
DeW'itt  Clinton  High  School,  107. 
1 22 

DeW  itt    Qinton    House,    287,  314, 
.lis- 

DeW'itt  Clinton  Park,  121. 
Diamond  Reef.  258. 
Dirckscn  N'olckert.  Home.  231. 
Disosway  House,  352. 
Ditmars  Houses,  284,  313. 
Ditmas  Houses,  248. 
Dolan's  Restaurant,  57. 
Dominie's  Hook,  277. 
Donck's  Colony.  182. 
Dongan  Hills,  339. 


411 


INDEX 


Dongan  House,  329. 
Dongan  Plantation,  308. 
Dongan's  Distillery,  351. 
Doughty,  Rev.  Francis,  House,  280. 
Drake,  Joseph  Rodman,  177,  196. 
Drake's  Park,  196,  197. 
Drover's  Inn,  ^g,  212. 
Dubois  House,  328,  330. 
Duke's  Plan,  7. 
Duke's  Woods,  Jamaica,  313. 
Duryea  Houses,  254,  292,  308. 
Duryea  Mill,  313. 
Duryee  House,  231. 
Dutch  Garden,  Van  Cortlandt  Park, 
i8r. 

Dutch  Kills,  27s. 

Dutch  Reformed  Church,  Brooklyn, 

First,  231. 
Dutch  Reformed  Church.  Bushwick, 

232. 

Dutch    Reformed   Church,  Hallett's 

Cove,  283;  Harlem,  147. 
Dutch     Reformed     Church,  New 

Utrecht,  259. 
Dutch  Reformed  Church,  Newtown, 

299. 

Dutch  Reformed  Church,  Port  Rich- 
mond, 330. 

Dutch  Reformed  Church,  Richmond, 
344. 

Dutch  Reformed  Church,  South,  32. 
Dutch  Reformed  Church,  Tompkins- 

ville,  335. 
Dyckman  House,  170,  172. 


Eastern  Hotel,  37. 

Eastchester  Village,  214. 

East  New  York,  253,  255. 

Edgar  Street,  22. 

Egbertville  Academy,  343. 

Elevated  Railroad,  59. 

Elgin  Botanical  Garden,  119. 

Ellis  Island,  35. 

Elm  Tree  Beacon,  342. 

Elm  Tree  T.ight,  339. 

Elmhurst,  297. 

Emans  House,  262. 

Emerson  Flill,  339. 

Erasmus  Hall  High  School,  247. 

Ericsson,  John,  78. 

Ericsson,  John,  Memorial,  33. 

Erie  Canal,  53,  78,  121. 

Essex  Market,  99. 

Exchange  Alley,  22. 


Farmer's  Brif'^j^e,  169. 

Farragut,  Admiral,  Memorial,  iii. 

Fashion  Race  Course,  293. 

Featherbed   Lane,   187,  288. 

I-'ederal  Hall,  61. 

Ferris  Houses,  204,  205. 

Ferris  Point,  204. 

Ferry  Village,  22.1;. 

Field,  Jacob,  House,  303. 

Fifth  Avenue  Hotel,  112. 

Fireman's  Hall,  63. 


Fire  of  1835,  Tablet,  30. 
Fire  Tower,  147. 

First  Presbyterian  Church,  26,  108. 

Fish,  Hamilton,  Birthplace,  89. 

Fish's  Mill,  280. 

Fish's  Store,  292. 

Fish's  Tavern,  Newtown,  301. 

Five  Points,  The,  98. 

Fitzroy  Road,  73,  115. 

Flatbush,  247. 

Flatlands,  249,  251,  263. 

Flatlands  Neck,  251. 

Flushing,  274,  297,  304. 

Fly  Brook,  283. 

Fly  Market,  62. 

Font  Hill.  184. 

Fordham,  199. 

Fordham  Lane,  212. 

Fordham  Manor,  170. 

Fordham    Manor    Dutch  Reformed 

Church,  190. 
Fordham  University,  201. 
Forrest,  Edwin,  Former  Home,  116, 

184. 

Forsyth  Street  Methodist  Church,  97. 
Fort  Amsterdam,  3,  19. 
Fort  Clinton,  146,  155. 
Fort  Columbus,  3s. 
Fort  Diamond,  258. 
Fort  Decker,  330. 
Fort  Fish,  146. 
Fort  Gansevoort,  73. 
Fort  George,  19,  155. 
Fort  Greene  Park,  243. 
Fort  Hamilton,  258,  309. 
Fort  Hill,  327. 
Fort  Horn,  126. 
Fort  Independence,  169,  190. 
Fort  Jay,  35- 
Fort  Knyphausen,  164. 
Fort  Lafayette,  258. 
Fort  Laight,  126. 
Fort  Lee,  131,  165. 
Fort  Nos.  I,  2  and  3,  183,  185. 
Fort  Nos,  4,  5;  and  6,  190. 
Fort  Nos.  7  and  8,  189. 
Fort  Orange,  371. 
Fort  Prince  Charles,  169. 
Fort  Putnam,  243. 
Fort  Schuyler,  204. 
Fort  Tompkins.  338. 
Fort  Tryon,  167. 
Fort  Wadsworth,  338. 
Fort  Washington,  161,  164. 
Fort  Washington  Point,  165;. 
Fountain,  City  Hall  Park,  55. 
Fountain  Houses,  329,  338,  341. 
Fountain  and  Light  Tower,  173. 
Fowler  Mansion,  214. 
Fox  Corners,  197. 
Fox,  George,  Mansion,  196. 
Fox  Oaks,   Flushing.  306. 
Foxhurst  Mansion,  197. 
Francis  Mansion,  187. 
Frankfort  Street.  57. 
Franklin,  Walter,  Home,  Tablet,  64. 
Franklin,  Benjamin,  Statues  of.  57, 
378. 


412 


INDEX 


Fraunces  Tavern,  30,  4i-47- 

Free  RridRe,  169. 

Free  School,  First,  ss.  97- 

Free  School  Society,  102. 

Freek's  Mill.  257. 

French  Academy,  154. 

French  Church  du  St.  Esprit,  61. 

Fresh  Kills,  34.'i. 

Fresh  Meadow  Road,  Flushin.s:,  304- 
Fresh  Meadow  Tract,  308. 
Fresh  Pond,  Maspeth.  288. 
Friends'  Meeting  Houses,  61,  91, 

303,  305. 
Fulton,  Robert,  15- 
Fulton,  Robert,  Tablet,  2$. 
Fulton. Robert,  Water  Gate,  139.  389. 
Furman  Houses,  287,  295. 
Furman's  Island,  287. 
Furmansville  Road,  295. 
Furniss  House,  123. 


Gansevoort  Market,  8,  73. 
Garibaldi  House,  337- 
Garretson  Houses,  307,   316,  339, 
349. 

George  III,  Statue,  17. 
Georgi  House,  212. 
General  Fort,  Eastchester,  214. 
General  Theological  Seminary,  116. 
German  Reformed  Church,  135. 
Gerritsen  Tide  Mill,  250. 
Ghetto,  The,  99. 
Gifford  House,  341. 
Glover's  Rock,  209. 
Goffe  House,  316. 
Golden  Hill  Inn,  62. 
Golden  Hill  Battle,  Tablet,  63,  67. 
Government  Hou?e.  19. 
Governor's  Garden,  5-. 
Governor's  Island,  34. 
Governor's  Room.  City  Hall,  53. 
Gowanus  Canal,  Creek,  257. 
Grace  Court  Spring,  241. 
Grace  Episcopal  Church,  23,  109. 
Grace   Episcopal   Church,  Brooklyn, 
241. 

Grace    Episcopal    Church,  Jamaica, 
312. 

Gracie  House,  135. 
Gramercy  Park,  iio. 
Grant's  Tomb,  126. 
"Grapevine,"  108. 
Gravesend,  261. 
"Great  Flat,"  249. 
Great  Kill.  121,  147. 
Great  Road,  73,  115. 
Great  Maize  Land,  161. 
Great  Mill  Rock,  281. 
Greeley,  Horace,  57,  iio,  133. 
Green  Lane,  67. 
Greenpoint,  229. 
Grecnridge,  34s- 
Greenwich  Avenue,  73. 
Greenwich  Hotel,  75. 
Greenwich  Street.  8,  15. 
Greenwich  \'illage,  8.  71. 
Greenwood  Cemetery,  257. 


Greenwood  House,  Jamaica,  313. 
Groshon  House,  214. 
Grote  House,  343. 
Grove  Street  School,  75, 
Guion  Tavern.  215. 
Gutenberg  Statue,  99,  378. 
Guyon-Clarke  House,  342. 


Hadley  House,  184. 
Hale,  Nathan,  Statue  of,  54. 
Hall  of  Fame,  183,  189. 
Hall  of  Records,  55. 
Hallett  Burying  Ground,  283. 
Hallett  Houses,  278,  281,  283. 
Hallett's  Cove,  281. 
Hallett's  Lane,  283. 
Hallett's  Point,  281. 
Hamilton,  Alexander,  Bust,  124. 
Hamilton,  Alexander,  Country  Seat, 
151. 

Hamilton,  Alexander,  House  where 

He  Died,  73. 
Hamilton,  Alexander,  Law  Office,  28. 
Hamilton,  Alexander,  Statue,  61. 
Hamilton  Fish  Park,  92. 
Hamilton  Free  School,  173. 
Hamilton  Grange,  151. 
Hamilton  Hall,  Flushing,  305. 
Hammer  Hotel,  212. 
Hammond  Castle,  20.V 
Hanover  Square,  30. 
Harlem  Creek,  147. 
Harlem  Heights,  Battle,  129. 
Harlem  Lane,  145. 
Harrison  House,  330. 
Harsenville,  121,  124. 
Hart's  Island.  210. 
Hastings,  Town  of,  275. 
Havemeyer  Estate,  205. 
Havens  House,  191. 
Hays  House,  167. 
Hazard  Homestead,  292. 
Health  Officer's  Residence,  Old,  335 
Heemstede,  275;. 
Heere  Gracht,  31. 
Hell  Gate,  136,  281. 
Hell  Gate  Bay,  149. 
Hemlock  Grove,  201. 
Hempstead  Swamp,  296. 
Henricus  Agricola,  279. 
Hermitage.  The,  191. 
Hessian  Spring,  164. 
Hessian  Springs,  327. 
High  Bridge,  r  S4- 
Hicks-Platt  House,  262. 
Hicksville,  275. 

Plisranic  Society  of  America,  153. 
HISTORIC  TREES,  ROCKS,  etc., 
403-407 

Hoe   Houses:  Brightside,  198;  Sun- 

nyside,  196. 
Hoffman  Boulevard.  302. 
Hoffman  Island,  347. 
Holland's  Ferry,  171. 
Holland's  Hook,  331. 
Hollis  Heights.  316. 
Hollow  Way.  127,  129,  139. 


41.3 


INDEX 


Holy  Nativity  Church,  191. 

Holy  Spring  House  345- 

Holyrood  Church,  161. 

Hopper,  Yalless,  House,  135. 

Horn,  John,  House,  112. 

Horn's'Hook,  135. 

Horse  Brook,   Newtown,  297,  300. 

Horse  Mill,  31- 

Horticultural  Hall,  201. 

Horton  Homestead,  209. 

Hotel  Astor.  121. 

Hotel  Gruetli,  22. 

Hotel  Netherland,  Paintings  in,  120. 
Hotel  Raleigh,  100. 
House  by  the  Mill,  345- 
House  of  Lords,  102. 
House  of  Refuge,  Old,  113. 
Housman  House,  331. 
Howard  Farm  House,  Newtown,  300. 
Howard's  Half-way  House,  255. 
Howe,   Sir  William,  Headquarters, 
302. 

Howe,  Sir  William,  Intrenchments, 
197. 

Hudson  Park,  76. 

Hudson  Monument,  183. 

Huguenot  Church,  345. 

Humock  Island,  168. 

Hunt  Burying   Ground,  19.6. 

Hunt  Houses,  197,  212,  302. 

Hunt  Inn,  197. 

Hunter-Iselin  Mansion,  210. 

Hunter's  Island,  210. 

Hunter's  Point,  275,  277. 

Huntington,  C.  P.,  Home,  205. 

Hunt's  Point,  197,  203. 

Hustace  House,  191. 

Hutchinson,  Ann,  Early  Home,  211. 

Hutchinson  River  Bridge,  211. 

Hyatt's  Tavern,  169. 


Indian  Brook,  207. 
Indian  Burying   Ground,    209,  3-^1, 
347- 

Indian  Ceremonial  Pits,  170,  171, 
174. 

Indian  l^eld,  182, 
Indian  Fortifications,  214. 
Indian  Hiding  Place,  214- 
Indian  Hunting  Ground,  172. 
Indian  Rock  Dwelling,  172. 
Indian  Shell  Heaps,  170. 
Indian  Trail,  147. 
Indian  Village,  171,  213. 
Indian  Well,  201. 
Inwood  Hill,  i''4- 
Iron  Hill,  339. 

Irving,  VVashington,  62,  109,  117. 
Isham  Mansion,  174. 
Isham  Park,  173. 


Jacobsen-Vanderbilt  House,  342. 

Jaeger  Camp,  185. 

Jamaica,  274,  310. 

Jans,  Anneke,  Farm,  77,  78. 

Japanese  Trees,  Riverside  Drive,  139. 

Jay,  John,  Statue,  61. 

Jefferson  Market,  82. 

Jefferson,  Thomas,  N.  Y.  Home,  61. 

Jeffrey's  Hook,  i6s. 

Jennings  Homestead,  212. 

Jerome  Park  Reservoir,  190. 

Jessup  House,  iq6,  301. 

Jewish    Cemeteries,   97,    108,  112. 

John  Street  M.  E.  Church,  62. 

John  Street  Theatre,  62. 

Johnson  Farmhouse,  349. 

Johnson's  Tavern,  213. 

Joncker's  Island,  293. 

Jones  Chapel,  134. 

Jones,  Humphrey,  House,  123. 

Jones  Wood,  134, 

Journeay  House,  347. 

Jumel  Mansion,  153,  i. "^6-1 59. 

Kalch  Hoek,  78. 

Kennedy  House,  The,  i.s- 

Keteltas  Mansion,  48a,  loi. 

Kidd,  Capt.,  Home  of,  30. 

Kieft's  Tavern,  30. 

King  Mansion,  Jamaica,  312. 

King  Park,  312. 

King's  Arms  Tavern,  15;. 

King's  Bridge.  168. 

King's  Bridge  Farm,  190. 

King's  College,  59. 

King's  Farm,  7. 

King's  Highway,  249, 

Kingsbridge,  181. 

Kingsbridge  Road,  9,  i74. 

Kip's  Bay,  133. 

Kip's  IVIill,  280. 

Kissing  Bridge,  97,  196,  372,  373. 
Knickerbocker  Cottage,  114. 
Kouwenhoven  Houses,  251,  263,  279, 

28. 

Kreischerville,  349. 
Kreuzer-Pelton  House,  328, 
Kruse,  Hugo  E.  Memorial,  315. 


La  Blant  House,  334. 
Labon's  Inn,  243. 
Labor  Temple,  loi. 
Lafayette  Lane,  196. 
Lafayette,  Statue,  107. 
Lafayette,  Portrait,  53. 
La  (Grange  Terrace,  93. 
Lake-Croak  House,  331. 
Lake  House,  262,  341. 
Lake  Tysen  House,  342. 
Land  l^oort  (Gate),  26. 
Latourctte  House,  344- 
Laura  Keonc's  Theatre,  100. 
Laurel  Hill,  i^^. 

Lawrence  Burial  Ground,  Steinway, 
28.C;. 

Lawrence   Farm   Houses,    184.  284, 
304,  308,  309. 


Jack-Knifc,  The.  62. 
Jackson  Mansion,  291. 
Jackson's  Mill-Pond,  280. 
Jacques  House,  330. 

414 


INDEX 


Lawrence  Lane,  283. 
Lefferts  Homestead,  247. 
Leg.^ett  Buryin^j  Ground,  iq6. 
Leggctt's  Lane,  iq6. 
I^nox  Farm,  13Q. 
Lenox  Library. 

Lent  Farm  House,  Corona,  2Q3. 
Leverich  Burial    Ground,  Steinway, 
28c;. 

Leverich  Home.  2q2. 
Lewis,  Francis,  Tablet,  307. 
Libby  Castle.  167. 
Liberty  Place,  66. 
Liberty  Pole,  Flushing:.  316. 
Liberty  Pole,  Xew  Utrecht.  260,  265. 
Liberty  Pole  Tablet,  54. 
Limerick,  Earl  of.  Plantation,  .308. 
Lincoln,  Statue,  107. 
Linden  Park,  31s. 
Linnsean  Botanic  Garden,  304. 
Linoleumville,  334- 
Lisnenard's  .NIeadows,  8,  77. 
Little  Church    Around   the  Corner, 
1 13. 

Little  Collect,  gs- 
Little  Commons,  Newtown,  209. 
Little  Hell  Gate,  137. 
Little  Mill  Rock,  281. 
Livingscton  Sugar  House,  61. 
Lockman  House,  342. 
Locusts,  The,  196. 
Lodowick's  Brook,  279. 
London  Terrace,  116. 
Longacre  Square,  121. 
Long  Island,  Battle  of,  22s. 
Long  Island  City,  incorporation, 275. 
Long  Island  History,  226. 
Long  Island  Historical  Society,  242. 
Long  Island  Xeck,.-333. 
Long  Travnes  Meadow,  279. 
Lookout  Hill,  246. 
Lord  Howe  Chesnut,  211. 
Lorelei  Monument  and  Fountain, 
202. 

Lorillard  Falls,  201. 
Lorillard,  Jacob,  House.  199. 
Lorillard    Mansion    Museum,  201, 
202. 

Lorillard  Snuff  Mill,  202. 

Lott  Houses,  248,  249,  254. 

Love  Lane,  1 1 

Love  joy's  Hotel.  ;7. 

Lowell,  J.  S.,  Memorial,  139. 

Lubbert's  Swamp,  278. 

Ludlow  Mansion,  204. 

Ludlow  House.  Xewtown,  300, 

Ludlow  Street  Jail,  99. 

Lutheran  Church,  23. 

Lydig's  Mills,  213. 


McComb  Mansion.  21. 
McGown's  Pass  Tavern,  145. 
McKesson  Homestead,  215. 
McKinley  Square,  212. 
Macedonia  Hotel.  210. 
Macomb  Mansion.  i8i. 


Madison  Cottage,  112. 
Madison  Square,  95,  iii. 
Madison  Square  Garden,  iii. 
Maiden  Lane,  7,  61. 
"Maine"  Relic,  315. 
"Maine"  Monumerrt,  National,  120. 
Manhattan  Company  Bank,  98. 
Manhattan  Water  Tank.  The,  98. 
Manhattanville,  127. 
Manning's  Island,  136. 
Manor  House.  Bushwick,  234. 
Mapes,    Uncle    Daniel,  Temperance 

House.  213, 
Marble  Arch,  169. 
Marble  Collegiate  Reformed  Church, 

1 14. 

Marble  House,  327. 
Marble  Hill.  168. 
Mariners'  Temple,  97. 
Marketfield  Street,  15;,  21. 
Marshall  Mansion,  209. 
Marshland.  345. 
Martyr's  Tomb,  243. 
Maryland  Monument.  246,  265. 
Maspeth,  287. 

Maurice  Woods,  The,  288. 
Meal  Market,  29. 

Meeting    and    Sessions    House,  Ja- 
maica, 311. 
Melrose  Hall,  247. 
Merchant's  Bank,  28. 
Merchant's  Coffee  House,  28,  29. 
Merchant's  Exchange.  29,  30. 
Mersereau  House,  333. 
Mersereau  \'alley,  339. 
Mescrole  Familv,  229. 
Meserole  Homestead,  231. 
Mespatkill,  274. 

Messiah  Home  for  Children,  183. 
Methodist  Church.  John  Street.  62. 
Methodist   Church,    Middle  X'illage, 
29  s. 

Methodist    Ouirch,     Sands  Street, 

Brooklyn.  241- 
Methodist  Church,  Second  M.  E.,  92. 
Methodist    Church.    Seventh  Street 
.  92. 

Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art,  120. 
Metropolitan  Temple,  107. 
Metropolitan    Opera    House,  First, 
100. 

Middleburg.  274,  297. 
Middle  Dutch  Church.  61,  91. 
Middletown  Hamlet,  278. 
Middletown  X'illage.  295. 
Middle  X'illage,  295. 
Midwout,  247, 

MILESTONES.  Appendix  A,  p.  371. 
^lilestone.  First,  97. 
Milestone,  Second,  91. 
Milestone,  Fourth.  133. 
Milestone,   Fifth,  133. 
Milestone,  Ninth,  i  si- 
Milestone,  Tenth,  212. 
Milestone,  Eleventh,   159,  161. 
Milestone,  Twelfth,  169. 
Milestone,  Fifteenth,  184,  213. 
Milestones,  Bronx,  374. 


INDEX 


Milestones,  Brooklyn,  250,  260,  26s, 
374. 

Milestones,  Richmond,  327,  374. 
Milestones,  Queens,  291,  374. 
IMill  Brook,  212. 
Mill  Camp,  147. 
Mill  Creek,  147. 
Mill  Lane,  31,  214. 
Mill  Rock,  136. 
Mile  Square  Road,  182. 
Milligan  Place,  108. 
Mill  Stones,  31,  314,  406. 
Minetta  Brook.  8,  71. 
Minetta  Street,  81. 
Minniesland,  Home  of  Audubon,  it;3. 
Minto  Farm,  328. 
Mitchell  House,  Flushing,  306. 
Monnot  Mansion,  204. 
Monroe,  Tames,  Death  Place,  100. 
Montaerne's  Creek,  147- 
Montague's  Point,  147. 
Montgomery  Cottage,  190. 
Montresor's  Island,  137. 
Monument  Lane,  80. 
MONUMENTS:  see  Appendix  B,  p. 
377. 

Moore  Houses,   ii5»   161,  278,  291, 

297,  393- 
Moravian  Cemetery,  339. 
Morgan  Residence,  214. 
Morningside  Heights,  125. 
Morosini  Mansion,  184. 
Morris,  Clara,  Home  of,  184. 
Morris  High  School,  19^. 
Morris  Houses,  Morrisania,  183,  I95. 

199,  202. 

Morris,  Roger,  Mansion,  153,  156. 

Morris  Street,  17. 

Morrisania,  199. 

Morse.  S.  F.,  Tablet,  112. 

Morton  Homes,  19.  76. 

Mosholu,  183, 

Mott  Burying  Ground,  Maspeth,  287. 

Mott  Homestead,  121. 

Mott  Hous^,  315. 

Mott  Mansion,  195. 

Mott    Memorial    Dutch  Reformed 

Church,  195,  198. 
Mount  Morris  Park,  147. 
Mt.  Napoleon,  281. 
Mt.  Tompkins,  335. 
Mt.        Washington  Presbyterian 

Church,  173. 
Mt.  Zion  Cemetery,  288. 
Mouquin's  Restaurant,  114. 
Mulberry  Bend  Park.  98. 
Municipal  Bu''ding,  65. 
Murray  Hill,  117,  309. 
Murray  Houses.  309. 
Muscoota,  147. 

MIJSP2UMS:  see  Appendix  D,  p.  395. 


National  Arts  Club.  iio. 
National  Maine  Monument,  120. 
Narrow  Passage,  291. 
Narrows,  The,  2.';8. 
Nautilus  Hall,  33.'). 


Navy  Yard,  23.';,  243-244. 
Neck  Road,  262. 

Negro  Burying  Ground,  Bronx,  197. 
Negro   Burying   Ground,  Newtown, 
299. 

Negro  Burying  Ground  Site,  170. 

Neutral  Ground,  176. 

Neville  House,  328. 

New  Amsterdam  Theatre,  Painting 
in,  139. 

New  Blazing  Star,  334. 

New  Dorp,  339. 

New  Lots,  253,  254. 

New  Springville,  333. 

New  Street,  21. 

New  Utrecht,  2.S9,  260.  • 

New  York  Bank.  28. 

New  York  City  Marble  Cemetery,  92. 

New  York  Gazette,  Tablet,  30. 

New  York  Genealogical  and  Bio- 
graphical Society,  120. 

New  York  Historical  Society,  26,  91, 
120. 

New  York  Hotel.  102. 
New  York  Marble  Cemetery,  92. 
New  York  Public  Library,  117,  398, 
New  York  Society  Library,  109,  400. 
New  York  State  Prison,  75. 
New  York  Stock  Exchange,  32. 
New  York  University  Bridge,  170. 
New     York     University  Building 

(Old).  80. 
New     York    University  Buildings 

(New),  189. 
Newtown,  274,  297  et  seq. 
Niblo's  Garden  and  Theatre.  100. 
Nieuw  Amersfoot,  249. 
Nieuw  Haerlem.  147. 
Nipnichsen,  Indian  Village  of,  172, 

i8s. 

Nolan  House,  347. 
Nolan's  Hotel,  201. 
North  Beach,  279. 
North  Brother  Island,  203. 
North  Dutch  Church,  63." 
North  Fort,  79. 
Northern  Dispensary.  82. 
Nostrand  House,  2S9. 
Nottston.  277. 

Numismatic  Society,  Museum  of, 
I. S3. 

Nutter's  Battery,  146. 


Oak  Villa,  123. 
Oakley  House,  347. 
Odell's  Barns,  214. 
Odellville,  133. 
Ogden  Mansion.  211. 
Old  Bowery  Road,  278. 
Old  Brewery,  98, 
Old  Broadway,  151. 
Old  Brook  School-house.  288. 
Old  Mill.  2«;3,  344. 
Old  Mill  Village.  2S3. 
Old  Place  Mill.  33  i. 
Old  Point  Comfort  Inn,  214. 
Old  Stone  Gate  House,  199. 

416 


INDEX 


Old  Stone  Jug.  212. 

Old  Tabernacle,  349. 

Old  Wreck  Brook,  21,  6.e;,  97. 

Oliver  Street  Baptist  Church,  97. 

Oude  Dorp,  325. 

Out  Plantations,  The,  274,  275. 

Oyster  Island,  35. 

Oyster  Market,  73. 


Paine,  Thomas,  Home,  81. 

Paisley  Place,  107. 

Parade  Ground.  The,  iii,  182. 

Paradise  Park,  98. 

Park  Avenue  Tunnel,  117. 

Parker-Clausen  House,  342. 

Park  Theatre,  57. 

Parsonage  Farm  House,  Newtown, 
303. 

Parsonage  Lot,  Jamaica,  310. 

Patten  House,  341. 

Patti,  Adelina,  Home,  193. 

Paul  House,  205. 

Pavilion  Hill,  335. 

Pavilion  Hotel,  327. 

Pavonia,  324. 

Paynter  House,  277,  314. 

Pearl  Street,  5,  20,  30,  31,  62. 

Peck  House,  253. 

Pelham  Bridge  215;. 

Pell  Family  Burying  Ground,  210. 

Pell  Houses,  210.  211. 

Pell  Point,  Battle.  176. 

Pell  Treaty  Oak,  210. 

Penfield  Homestead,  193. 

Pentecostal  Tabernacle,  228. 

Pero-Christopher  House,  333. 

Perrine  Homestead.  339- 

Peter  Cooper  Tenements,  233. 

Petticoat  Lane.  21. 

Pettit's  Hotel,  Jamaica,  316. 

Piewoman's  Lane,  26. 

Pitt.  William,  Statue  of.  28. 

Planter's  Hotel,  66,  335- 

Player's  Clubhouse,  no. 

Pleasant  Avenue,  149. 

Plymouth  Church,  241. 

Foe,  Edgar  Allan,  Homes,  83,  123, 
176,  201. 

Poe  Park  201. 

Point  of  Rocks,  126. 

Police  Court.  99. 

Pompeian  Columns,  32. 

Poole,  Townsend,  Cottage,  189. 

Poor  Bowery,  The,  279. 

Port  Morris,  196,  203. 

Port  Richmond,  330. 

Port  Richmond  Hotel,  330. 

Porter,  Gen.  Josiah,  Statue,  182. 

Post  House,  331. 

Post  Office,  54.  55,  61. 

POST  ROADS,  55,  I45.  3i7,  Ap- 
pendix A.  p.  371. 

Post's  Tavern,  165. 

Pot  Cove.  281. 

Potter's  Field,  210. 

Powell  Farm  House,  199. 


Praa,  Peter,  House,  231. 

Presbyterian  Church,  Astoria,  283. 

Presbyterian  Church,  Brick,  57,  117. 

Presbyterian  Church,  First  (Nlanhat- 
tan),  26,  108. 

Presbyterian  Church,  Jamaica,  312. 

Presbyterian  Church,  Newtown,  302. 

Presbyterian  Church,  Second  Ave- 
nue, lOI. 

Presbyterian  Church,  Spring  Street, 
76. 

Presbyterian  Church,  \\  est  Farms, 
213. 

Prime  House,  135. 

Prince  Mansion,  Flushing,  305. 

Prince's  Nursery,  304- 

Prison  Ships.  Revolutionary,  244, 

Progress  Hall,  330. 

Prospect  Hill  Avenue,  211. 

Prospect  Park,  245. 

Public  Schools:  97,  102,  242. 

Public  School  52,  Manhattan,  173. 

Pudding  Rock,  212. 

Punta  Rossa  House,  37. 

Purdy  Houses,  213,  291. 

Purdy's  Hotel,  350. 

Purdy's  National  Theatre,  97. 


Quaker    Meeting   House,  Flushing, 
305. 

Quaker  Meeting  Houses,  Manhattan, 
61,  91. 

Quaker   Meeting  House,  Newtown, 
303. 

Quarantine  Ferry  Landing,  335. 
Quarantine  Station,  337. 
QUEENS  BOROUGH,  274. 
Queen  Charlotte  Tavern,  43. 
Oueensboro  Bridge.  227. 
Queen's  Farm,  8. 
Queen's  Head  Tavern,  287. 
Quiet  Dale,  147. 


Randall's  Island,  137. 

Rapalye  Houses,  254,  265,  279,  280, 

285,  292,  293,  294. 
Rattlesnake  Brook,  214. 
Rattlesnake  Spring,  292. 
Ravenswood,  281. 
Reason  Street.  81. 
Reeder  House,  300. 
Reformed     Dutch     Churches:  see 

Dutch  Reformed,  etc. 
Reid's  Mill.  214. 
Remsen  Burying  Ground,  296. 
Remsen  House.  241. 
Renne,  Samuel,  House,  302. 
Republican  Club,  139. 
Revolutionary  Cannon,  21,  38,  62,  64, 

139,  146. 

Revolutionary  Earthworks,  146,  i5">f 

164.  165.  167. 
Rhinelander  Sugar  House,  6s,  182. 
Richardson  House,  196. 
Richmond,  343. 


INDEX 


Richmond  County  Court  House,  344. 
Richmond  Hill  Mansion.  76. 
Richmond    Terrace,  329. 
Richmond  V^alley,  349. 
RICHMOND  BOROUGH,  325. 
Ridgeway  House,  334. 
Riker  Houses,  279,  291. 
Road  from  the  Ferry,  Maspeth,  287- 
Roberts  Homestead,  20=;. 
Robinson,  Morris,  Tablet,  29. 
Rocking  Stone,  The,  202. 
Rocky  Hill  Road,  Flushing,  304- 
ROCKS  AND  TREES,  HISTORIC, 
403. 

Rodman  Mansion,  211. 
Roman  Catholic  Church,  St.  Peter's, 
59,  116. 

Roman  Catholic  Church  of  Trans- 
figuration, 98. 

Roman  Catholic  Orphan  Asylum, 
190. 

Roosevelt  Street,  6.s- 

Roosevelt,  Theodore,  Birthplace,  no. 

Rose  and  Crown  House,  341. 

Rose  Hill  Farm,  112. 

Rose  Hill  Manor,  201. 

Rossville,  347. 

Rotunda,  The,  eg. 

Rustdorp,  310. 

Rutger's  ^lansion,  78. 

Rutherford  Mansion.  loi. 

Ryder's  Alley,  63. 

Ryder  Houses,  250. 

Ryder  Lane,  2!^o. 

Ryerson's  Mill,  277,  314- 


Sackett  House,  293. 
Sailor's  Snug  Harbor,  328. 
St.  Alphonsus'  Church,  78. 
St.  Andrew's  Church,  Richmond,  343* 
St.  Ann's   Episcopal   Church,  195, 
198. 

St.  Ann's  Hall,  Flushing,  307. 

St.  Anthony's  R.  C.  Church,  Origi- 
nal, 231 

St.  Clement's  Church,  81. 

St.  Cornelius,  Chapel  of,  35, 

St.  Esprit,  du,  Church,  61,  113. 

St.  Francis  Xavier,  College  of,  107. 

St.  George,  327. 

St.  George  Building,  63. 

St.  George's  Church,  91,  loi. 

St.  George's  Episcopal  Church,  As- 
toria, 283. 

St.  George  Episcopal  Church,  Flush- 
ing, 307. 

St.  James   Episcopal   Church,  New- 
St.  James    Episcopal    Church,  New- 
town, 300. 
St.  James  Hotel,  Port  Richmond,  330. 
St.  James  Pro-Cathedral,  242. 
St.  John  the  Divine,  Cathedral,  I2fi. 
St.  John's  Cemetery,  76,  295. 
St.  John's  Chapel,  78. 
St.  John's  College,  201. 
St.  John's  Lane.  78. 
St.  John's  Lutheran  Church,  81, 


St.  John's  Lutheran  Church,  New 
Utrecht,  259. 

St.  John's  Park,  78. 

St.  Joseph's  Academy,  307. 

St.  Luke's  Chapel,  ye,. 

St.  Mark's  Hotel,  327. 

St.  Mark's-in-the-Bowery  Church,  89. 

St.  Mary's  R.  C.  Church,  99. 

St.  Michael's  Episcopal  Church,  123. 

St.  Nicholas  Church,  19. 

St.  Ronan's  Well,  293. 

St.  Patrick's  Cathedral,  119. 

St.  Patrick's  R.  C.  Church,  100. 

St.  Paul's  Chapel,  58. 

St  Paul's  Church,  Eastchester,  214. 

St.  Paul's  Churchyard,  215. 

St.  Peter's  R.  C.  Church,  S9,  116. 

St.  Peter's  R.  C.  Church,  Westches- 
ter, 207. 

St.  Peter's  Rectory,  Westchester,  207. 
St.  Thomas  Hall,  Flushing,  307. 
Samler  House,  184. 
Sands  Land,  99. 
Sanford  Hall,  Flushing,  307. 
Santa  Anna,  Gen.,  Residence,  330. 
Sappokanican,  8,  71. 
Saw  Mill  Brook,  212. 
Schenck-Crooke   House,  249. 
Schenck  House,  Canarsie,  253,  254, 

264,  265. 
Schermerhorn  Farm  House,  134. 
Schermerhorn  Mansion,  112. 
Schorakin,  149, 
Schreyer's  Hoek,  20. 
Schurz,  Carl,  Memorial  140 
Scotch    Presbyterian    Church,  61. 
Scott-Edwards  House,  329. 
Scott,  Winfield,  Mansion,  135. 
Screven's  Point,  203. 
Sea  and  Land  Church,  91. 
Seaman  House,  345. 
Seaman's  Retreat,  337. 
Seamen's  Church  Institute,   37,  38. 
Seguine  House,  345. 
Seguine's  Point,  347. 
Seton  Cave,  Falls,  214. 
Sevilla  Home,  196. 
Seward  Park,  99. 
Seward  Statue,  iii. 
Shakespeare  Tavern,  63. 
Shell    Road,   Newtown,   288,  298. 
Sherman,   W.    T.,    Statue,  119. 
Sherman's  Creek,  171. 
"Shoemaker's  Pasture,"  64. 
Shora-kapkok,  172. 
Shore  Road  Boulevard,  283. 
Shot  Tower,  Youle's,  134. 
Signs  Road,  351. 
Simonson  House,  334. 
Skillm.an  House,  234. 
Skillman  Avenue,  277. 
Skinner's  Road,  73. 
Smith's  Folly,  134. 
Smith's    Island,    274,  287. 
Smith's  Meadows,  Newtown,  303. 
Smit's  V'ly,  61. 
Smoking  Point,  347. 
vSmuggler's  Cave,  134. 


418 


INDEX 


Snake  Hill,  147. 

Snedeker  Houses,  253,   254,  264. 
Snuggery,  Concord,  339. 
Soldiers'  and   Sailors'  Memorial 

Arch,  245. 
Soldiers'  and  Sailors'  Monument, 

123,  316. 

Soldiers'  Monument,  Flushing,  315, 
316. 

Somerindyke  House,  122. 

Southampton  Road,  73,  115. 

South  Brother  Island,  203. 

South  Meadows,  295,  303. 

Spencer  Mansion,  81. 

Split  Rock,  211. 

Spring  Garden,  59. 

Spring  Hill  Fstate,  308. 

Springsteen  Homestead,  295. 

Spy  House,  212. 

Spy  Oak,  The,  205. 

Stadt   Huys,  30. 

State  Street,   19,  37. 

State  Mansion,  19. 

Staten   Island,  324. 

Staten    Island   Association   of  Arts 

and  Sciences,  327. 
STATUES.    Appendix  B.    p.  377. 
Statues  in  Prospect  Park,  246. 
Steamship  Row,  19. 
Stein  way,  285. 
Stenton   Residence,  201. 
Stepping  Stones  Light,  210. 
Steuben,  Baron,  Monument  of,  135. 
Stevens  House,  17,  37,  281. 
Stewart  A.  T.,  Grave  of,  89. 
Stewart's  Cafe,  57,  66. 
Stilwell  House,  250,  262. 
Stock  Exchange,  3?. 
Stone   Street,  20. 
Stony  Brook,  324.  339,  341. 
Strand,  The,  20. 
Streets,  Early,  5. 
Strickland's  Tavern,  308. 
Striker  Houses,  121,  248. 
Striker's  Bav,  121. 
Stuyvesant  Houses,  20,  89,  91. 
Stuyevsant  Pear  Tree,  91. 
Stuyvesant  Statue,  21. 
Stuyvesant  Square,  91. 
Stuyvesant   Tomb,  89. 
Sub-Treasury,  26. 
Suicide  Slip,  78. 
Sun  Building,  57. 

Sunnyside,  Home  of  Peter  Hoe,  196. 

Sunset  Lane,  165. 

Sunswick   Creek,  283. 

Suydam,   Dow,   Homestead  of,  296. 

Suydam's  Mill,  283. 

Swamp,  The,  64. 

Swan  Hotel.  329. 

Swinburne  Island,  347. 

Sylvan  Place,  147. 


TABLETS:    Appendix  B,  p.  377. 
Tallapoosa  Club  House,  215. 
Tammany  Hall,  57,  109. 
Tavern,  Ye  Olde.  66. 


Taylor,  Bayard,  Home  of,  109. 

Teawater  Pump,  97. 

Tetard,  Dominie,  Farm  of,  190. 

Thalia  Theatre,  97. 

Thames   Street,  60. 

Theatre  Alley,  57. 

Thirteen  Trees,  151,  193. 

Throgg's  Neck,  203. 

Times  Square,  139. 

Tin  Pot  Alley,  22, 

Tippett  Mansion,   181,  185. 

Tilden,  Samuel  J.,  House,  no. 

Titus,   Content,   Houses,   294,  298. 

Titus'  Mill,  294. 

Todt  Hill,  339- 

Tombs,  The,  98. 

Tompkins  Farm  House,  295. 

Tompkins,  Gov.  D.  T.,  Tomb  of,  89. 

Tontine  Coffee  House,  29. 

Totten  Homestead,  287. 

Tottenville,  349. 

Tower  Building,  21. 

Townsend  Castle,  337. 

Townsend,  Henry,  House  of,  Ja- 
maica, 313. 

Townsend  Poole  Cottage,  189. 

Track  House,  342. 

Trains  Meadow,  279. 

Transfiguration   Church,  98. 

TREES,  ROCKS,  etc.,  HISTORIC. 
403. 

Trinity  Cemetery,  152. 
Trinity  Church,  8.  23,  25. 
Trotting  Course  Lane,  295. 
Try  on  Row,  55. 
Tubby  Hook,  173. 
Tulip  Tree,   172,  174. 
Tunissen's  Xeck,  331. 
Turner,  Peter,  Bust,  242. 
Turtle  Bay,  133. 

Twain,  Mark,  Former  Home,  184. 
Twelfth  Street  School,  109. 
Twin  Island,  211. 
Tyler  House,  329. 

Underbill  Burying  Ground,  213. 
Underbill  Covert  Farm  House,  288. 
Union  Avenue,    Xewtown,  299. 
Union  Hill  Academy,  312. 
Union  Hotel,   Xewtown,  301. 
Union  House,  112,  349. 
L'nion  Road,  Old,  107, 
L'nion  Square,  106. 
L'nion  Theological    Seminary,  126. 
United  States  Arsenal,    1 1 
United  States  Branch    Bank.  29. 
United  States  Marine  Hospital,  235. 
United  States  Hotel,  37,  63. 
United  States  Xaval  Sluseum,  264. 
United  States  Ship  Canal,  169. 
L'pper  Cortlandt's.  185. 
Upper  Road  to  the  Ferry,  Xewtown, 
302. 

\'alcntine  Farm  House.  201. 
\'alentine  Homestead,  193. 
X'allence's  Bark  Mill,  302. 


INDEX 


Van  Alst  Avenue,  283. 
Van  Alst  House,  277. 
^'an  Bcuren  House,  107. 
\'an  Brunt  House,  253,  259. 
\'an  Buren.  Gen.,  Home  of,  335. 
\'an  Cleef  House,  262. 
\'an  Cortlandt  Burial  Vault,  182. 
\'an  Cortlandt  Gardener's  Cottage, 
18.S. 

Van  Cortlandt  Grist  Mill,  182. 
\'an  Cortlaiidt  House,  Original,  182. 
\'an  Cortlandt  Lake,  182. 
A'an  Cortlandt  Mansion,  181. 
\'an  Cortlandt  ^^liller's  House,  184. 
\'an  Cortlandt's  on  the  Hill,  185. 
\'an  der  Donck  House,  182. 
Van  der  Donck  Planting  Field.  182. 
\'an  der  Heuvel  ^Mansion,  123. 
\'an  Duyn  Homestead,  296. 
\'an  Keulen's  Hook,  149. 
\'an  Xuyse-Magaw  Homestead,  251 
YuTi  Pelt  Academy,  330. 
\'an  Pelt  Cottage,  331, 
Van  Pelt  Houses,  260,  347. 
Van  Pelt-Decker  House,  260. 
Van  Raust  House,  234. 
\'an  Schaick  Mansion,  205. 
\'an  Sicklen  Houses,  254,  313. 
Van  Sinderen  Hous^,  254. 
\'an  Wicklen  Mill,  253. 
Van  \\'3'ck  Houses,  249,  251,  312. 
\'anderbilt  Houses,  247,  337,  342, 
352. 

\  anderveer  Houses  248,  254. 
\'anderveer  Mill,  248,  254. 
\'an  Oblinus,  Farm  of,  161. 
\'arian,  Isaac.  Homestead,  191. 
\'ault  Hill,  182. 
\'auxhall  Garden,  59,  93. 
Vechte-Ccrtelyou    House,  Tablet, 

257,  265. 
*'\  erinor.t,"  The,  264. 
\'erlettenbergh,  21. 
Verveelen's  First  Ferry  to  Bronx, 

149. 

\  mcent-Halsey  House,  214. 

\'ietor  House,  Xewtown,  297. 

Vineyard  Lot,  57. 

\'ly:  see  Fly. 

\nissingen,  275. 

\'olckert  Dirksen,  House,  231. 

X'oorhees  House,  259. 

Voorhees-Sheppard  House,  262. 

\'rcdeland,  207. 

\'redendal,  146,  147. 

\  rceland  Houses,  333,  338. 


Wading  Place,  169. 
W'.'ill  Street,  s,  6,  26. 
W'allabout  Bay,  244. 
WaHabout  -\L'irkct,  23.S,  244. 
Walton  House,  64. 
Ward  House,  328. 
Ward's  Island,   137,  281. 
Warpoes,  07. 
Warren  House,  73. 
Warren  Road,   i  1 5. 


Washington  Building,  15. 
Washington  Hotel,  15. 
Washington  ]^Iarket,  60,  66. 
Washington  Memorial  Arch.  80. 
^^'a5^.ington  Square,  80. 
Washington   Statues,   26,   106,  140, 
277. 

\\  ashmgton  s  Chestnut,  184. 
Washington's  Departure,  Tablet,  20. 
\\'ashington's  Gun   House,  193. 
Washington's    Headquarters,  153, 

i56;9,  191- 
}\'ashington's  Landing,  79. 
Washington's  Well,  131. 
Washingtonville,  193. 
W^ater  Poort,  26. 
Way  Farm  House,  Xewtovvn,  287, 
\\'ebb  Shipbuilder's  Home  and 

Academj^  190, 
W'ebster,  Daniel,  Home,  17. 
Weehawken  Duelling  Grounds,  124. 
\\'eeha\vken  Street,  75. 
Wessell's  Brook,  279. 
West  India  Company,  20,  22,  31, 
West  Farms,  213. 

West  Farms  Presbyterian  Church, 
213. 

West  House,  308. 

West  Riding  of  Yorkshire,  275. 

West  Washington  Market,  60. 

Westchester    Creek   Causeway,  207. 

V\'estchester  Path,  372. 

\\'estchester  A^illage,  176,  2^5,  207. 

Whipping  Post  and  Gallows,  Rich- 
mond, 344. 

White  Hall.  20. 

\\^hitehall  Ferry,  45. 

White  Horse  Inn.  21. 

Whitepot  Road,  School.  295. 

Whitestone,  275,  309. 

\\'hitestone    Road,   Flushing,  304. 

Whitlock  ]\Iansion,  196. 

\\'ilkins  Farmhouse,  203. 

Willett  Tract  and  Burying  Ground, 
308. 

Willett  iMarinus,  Tablet,  32. 
William   Street,  30. 
Williams  House,  Williamsbridge, 
}^}- 

Williamsbridge,  191. 

\\'illiamsburg,  227. 

Williamison  House,  262. 

\\'iltsee  House,  Astoria,  284. 

Wiman,  Erastus,  House  of,  345. 

Winant  House,  347. 

\\  inant-Tohnson  House,  352. 

Windmill  Lane,  60. 

Wolf  Pit,  334. 

Wolf  Pit  Hill  Farm,  309. 

Wolf  Swamp,  291. 

Wolf's  Lane,  211. 

\\'oodard  House,  289. 

Woodhull,    Gen..  2S9. 

Woodlawn  Cemetery,  193. 

Wood  Point  Road.  232. 

Woods  of  Arden  House,  347* 

Woodsidc,  291. 

\\'oodside,  Bronx,  196. 


IXDEX 


Woodward  or  Woodard  House,  2S9, 
297. 

W'oolf  Farm,  187. 
W'oolsey.  Edward,  House  of,  284. 
Wright  Homestead,  308. 
Wyckoff  Houses,  255,  265,  285,  289, 
315. 


Ye  Olde  Tavern,  66. 
Yonk-Herr's  Land.  182. 
Yorkville,  133. 

Zborowski  Mansion,  199. 
Zerega's   Point,  204. 
Zoological  Garden,  202,  400. 


This  Index  was  prepared  under  the  supervision  of  Samuel  C.  Cohen,  aided 
by  David  Rosenberg.  Lonis  Schneider  and  Morris  Slutsky  and  other  mem- 
bers of  the  DeWitt  Clinton  City  History  Club. 


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Historical  Meetings   Samuel  V.  Hoifman. 

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Music  Festivals   Prof.  Henry  T.  Fleck. 

Naval  Events   Hon.  R.  A,  C.  Smith. 

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Netherlands   Henry  L.  Bogert. 

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Reviewing  Stand   Dr.  C.  F.  Riesener,  Vice-Chn. 

Street  Parades  Gen.  George  R.  Dyer. 

*  Deceased. 


COMMERCIAL  PAGEANTS  COMMITTEE. 

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423 


TERCENTENARY  COMMISSION 

COMMISSION. 
Members  by  Appointment. 


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John  Adikes. 

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William  J,  Amend. 

Louis  Annin  Ames. 

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]    B.  Greenhut. 

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Willianx  A.  Johnston. 

J.  Harris  Jones. 

Lucien  J  our  and. 

Otto  II.  Kahn. 

Robert  C.  Kammerer. 

Trustees 


Hon.  Benjamin  A.  Keiley. 

Hon.  Ardolph  L.  Kline. 

Cornelius  G.  Kolff. 

George  F.  Runs,  Ph.D.,  Sc.D. 

Hans  Lagerlof. 

Charles  R.  Lamb. 

Leopold  L.  Langrock. 

Edward  Lauterbach,  LL.D, 

IVilliam  J.  Lee. 

H.  M.  Leipziger,  Ph.D.,  LL.D. 

Hon.  Jefferson  M.  Levy. 

Nelson  P.  Lewis. 

W.  V.  Lifsey. 

Austin  W.  Lord. 

Stephen  Lounsbery, 

R.    Fulton  Ludlow. 

Clarence  H.  Mackay. 

A.  E.  MacKinnon. 

Tubus  D.  xMahr. 

Hon.  Milo  R.  Maltbie. 

Hon.  Alrick  H.  Man. 

William  A.  Marble. 

Hon.  Marcus  M.  Marks. 

Hon.  Douglas  Mathewson. 

William  H.  Maxwell,  Ph.D.,  LL.D. 

Hon.  William  G.  McAdoo. 

Hon.  George  McAneny. 

Thomas  F.  McAvoy. 

Hon.  George  B.  McClellan. 

Hon.  Charles  ].  McCormack. 

Alfred  J.  McGrath. 

Tohn  J.  McKelvey. 

S.  C.  Mead. 

William  R.  Mead. 

Rev.  H.  Pereira  Mendes,  D.D. 

S.  A.  Miles. 

Hon.  Cyrus  C.  Miller. 

L.   E.  Miller. 

Hon.  John  Purroy  Mitchel. 

Henry  Morgenthau. 

Lewis  R.  Morris,  M.D. 

Frank  A.  Munsey. 

Joseph  Brady  Murray. 

Wiiliam  C.  Muschenheim. 

Adolph  I.  Namm. 

William  A.  Xash. 

George  L.  Xaught. 

*  Gorge  W.  Xeville. 

Hon.  William  W.  Xiles. 

E.  A.  Xorman. 

Hon.  Morgan  J.  O'Brien. 

Dr.  Joseph  J.  O'Connell. 

Hon.  fames  A.  O'Gorman. 

Hon.  Arthur  T.  O'KeefTe. 

Eben  E.  Olcolt. 

Robert  Olyphant. 

Henry  F.  Osboru.  Ph.D.,  LL.D. 

Eugene  H.  Outerbridge. 

Col.  Willis  S.  Paine. 

Hon.  Alton  B.  Parker. 

John  E.  Parsons. 

Wm.  l>arclay  Parsons,  LL.D. 

Hon.  George  IV.  Perkins. 

Ralph  Peters. 

Hon.  N.  Taylot  Phi  Hits. 

imes  in  italics. 
425 


TERCENTENARY  COMMISSION 


Lewis  E.  PiersoJi. 

John  B,  Pine. 

W.  H.  Pleasants. 

Hon.  Frank  L.  Polk. 

Hon.  Lewis  H.  Pounds. 

lohn  A.  Poynton. 

Frederick  B.  Pratt. 

Hon.  William  A.  Pendergast. 

Charles  W.  Price. 

Hon.  Cornelius  A.  Pugsley. 

W  illiam  E.  Pulsifer. 

A.  A.  Raven. 

H.  H.  Raymond. 

Xorman   B.  Ream. 

Fred  A.  Reed. 

H''i!li(i)n  C.  Rcick. 

Charles  E.  Rcid. 

Daniel  G.  Reid. 

Rev.  Christian  F.  Reisncr. 

Hon.  Herman  Ricidcr. 

Carl  Ridemeister. 

Edzcard  P.  V.  Rittcr. 

(leorge  L.  Rives,  LL.  D. 

Rev.  Spencer  S.  Roclie. 

John  D.  Rockefeller,  Jr. 

Hon.   Elihu  Root. 

I'rederick  W.  Rubien. 

Henry  Ruhlander. 

Co!.  Jacob  Rui)i)ert. 

Willis  Wilmington  Russell. 

Thomas  F.  Ryan. 

Col.  Henry  [V .  Sackett. 

v.  Augustus  Schermerhorn. 

Hon.  Charles  A.  Schieren. 

Jacob  H.  Schifr. 

Leo  Schlesinger. 

Walter  Scott. 

George  Martin  Seeley. 

William  B.  Seldon.^' 

Isaac  X.  Seligman. 

Col.  John  L.  Shepherd. 

Hon.  Theodore  F.  Shonts. 

Henrv  Siegel. 

A.  Silz. 

William  Simmons. 
Hon.  John  A.  Sleicher. 
IVank  W.  Smith. 
George  Carson  Smith. 
Hon.  R.  A.  C.  Smith. 
Thomas  F.  Smith. 
Luigi  Solari. 
Xelson  S.  Spencer. 
James  Speyer. 
Charles  E.  Sfraff. 


Charles  Stecklcr. 

lion.  Alfred  E.  Steers. 

T.  H.  Steinhardt 

v.  W.  Woolworth. 

John  A.  Stewart. 

Hon.  Wm.  R.  Stewart. 

Anthony  E.  Stillger. 

Rev.  Ernest  M.  Stires,  D.D. 

Edii'ard  W.  Stitt,  Ph.D. 

Melville  E.  Stone. 

Hon.  Charles  B.  Stover. 

Jacob  Stumpf. 

Hon.  James  E.  Sullivan. 

Henry  W.  Taft. 

IV il lard  U.  Taylor. 

Elmer  Thompson. 

Hon.  Calvin  Tomkins. 

Hon.  Charles  A.  Towne. 

Henry  R.  Ton'ne. 

Albert  Ulmann. 

\Villiam  J.  Underwood. 

Samuel  Untermeyer. 

Theodore  N.   Vail,  LL.D. 

Lee  J.  N  ance. 

William  S.   Van  Clief. 

Cornelius  Vanderbilt. 

William  K.  Vanderbilt. 

Abram  Wakeman. 

Hon.  Rhinelander  Waldo. 

Hon.  Judson  G.  Wall. 

Henry  Walters. 

Hon.  Tohn  Wanamaker. 

Paul  W.  Warburg. 

Whitney  Warren. 

Hon.  Bartow  S.  Weeks. 

Hon.  James  L.  Wells. 

Edmund  Wetmore. 

Maior  Robert  A  Widenmaim. 

W.'  H.  Wiley. 

Hon.  William  R.  Willcox. 

Arthur  Williams. 

Talcott  Williams,  L.H.D.,  LL.D. 

T.  S.  WilHams. 

Francis  ^L  Wilson. 

Hon.  E.  L.  Winthrop,  Tr. 

Charles  B.  Wolffram. 

William  J.  Wollman. 

Henry  A.  Wise  Wood. 

Otis  Fenner  Wood. 

Major  James  Otis  Woodward. 

James  C.  Young. 

John  R.  Young. 

William  Zieglcr.  Jr. 


Mayors  of  Cities  (Members  ex-officio). 

Albany   Hon.  Joseph  W.  Stevens. 

Amsterdam  Hon.  J,  H.  Dealy. 

Auburn   Hon.  C.  W.  Brister. 

Beacon   Hon.  J.  A.  Frost. 

Binghamton   Hon.  John  J.  Irving. 

Buffalo   Hon.  Louis  P.  Fuhrmann. 

Canandaigua  Hon.  Peter  P.  Turner. 

Trustees  names  in  italics. 

426 


TERCENTENARY  COMMISSION. 


Cohoes   Hon.  James  S.  Calkins. 

Corning  Hon.  Lewis  N.  Lattin. 

Cortlandt  Hon.  Walter  H.  Angell. 

Dunkirk   Hon.  J.  T.  Sullivan. 

Elmira   Hon.  Harry  N.  Hoffman. 

Fulton   Hon.  Frank  E.  Fox. 

Geneva  Hon.  Reuben  H.  Gulvin. 

Glens  Falls   Hon..  IV.  Irving  GrifHng. 

Gloversville   Hon.  G.  VV.  Schermerhorn. 

Hornell   Hon.  Frank  J.  Nelson. 

Hudson   Hon.  Louis  Van  Hoesen. 

Ithaca   Hon.  Thomas  Tree. 

Jamestown   Hon.  Samuel  A.  Carlson. 

Johnstown   Hon.  Clarence  W.  Smith. 

Kingston   Hon.  Palmer  CanHcld,  Jr. 

Lackawanna   Hon.  John  1.  Sidney. 

Little  Falls   Hon.  Frank  H.  Shall. 

Lockport   Hon.  George  A.  Brock. 

]\liddletown   Hon.  Rosslyn  M.  Cox. 

Mount  X^ernon   Hon.  Edwin  W.  Fiske. 

Nezvburgh   Hon.  John  B.  Corzvin. 

Xew  Rochelle   Hon.  Edward  Stetson  Griffing, 

Xew  York   Hon.  John  Purroy  Mitchel. 

Xiagarn  Falls   .....Hon.  William  Laughlin. 

Xorth  Tonavvanda  Hon.  John  A.  Rafter. 

Ogdensburgh   ,.  Hon.  Charles  D.  Hoard. 

Glean   ;  Hon.  W.  H.  Simpson. 

Oneida   Hon.  Otto  Pfaff. 

Oneonta  Hon.  Joseph  S.  Lunn. 

Oswego   Hon.  Thomas  F.  Hennes-iey. 

Plattsburgh   Hon.  W.  H.  Gof¥. 

Port  Jervis   Hon.  Frank  Lybolt. 

Poughkeepsic   Hon.  Daniel  W.  Wilher. 

Rensselaer   Hon.  Frederick  Ruhloff. 

Rochester   Hon.  Hiram  H.  Edgerton. 

Rome  Hon.  H.  C.  Midlam. 

Schenectady   Hon.  J.  Teller  Schoolcraft. 

Syracuse   Hon.  Louis  Will. 

Tonawanda  Hon.  Albert  J.  Cordes. 

Troy  .r  Hon.  Cornelius  F.  Burns. 

Utica     «  Hon.  James  D.  Smith. 

Watertown   Hon.  Isaac  R.  Breen. 

IVatervlict   Hon.  Edivin  W.  Joslin. 

Yonkers   Hon.  James  T.  Lcnnon. 

Athens   Hon.  William  M.  Collier. 

Castleton   Hon.  Christian  Peters. 

Catskill   Hon.  Willis  A.  Haines. 

Cold  Spring   Hon.  Charles  M.  Selleck. 

Orinth   Hon.  J.  Finley  Work. 

Cornwall   Hon.  William  R.  Cocks, 

Coxsackie     Hon.  Henry  A.  Jordan. 

Croton-on-Huds(yn   Hon.  Charles  E.  Anderson, 

Dobbs  F'erry   Col.  Franklin  Q.  I'.rown, 

Fishkill   Hon.  John  P.  Dugan. 

P'ort  Edward   ....   Hon.  Alfred  Drown. 

Green  Island   Hon.  John  McGowan. 

Hastings-on-Hudson   Hon.  T.  F.  Reynold. 

Haverstraw   Hon,  Thomas  J.  Freeman. 

Trustees  names  in  italics. 
427 


TERCENTENARY  COMMISSION 


Presidents  of  Villages  (Members  ex-officio). 


Hudson  Falls   lion.  Russel  C.  Paris. 

Irvington     Hon.  M.  S.  Beltzhoover. 

Mechanicsville   Hon.  John  F.  Green. 

North  Tarrytown   Hon.  Samuel  T.  Horton. 

Xyack  Hon.  James  Kilby. 

Ossining   Hon.  J.  E.  Hollo. 

Peekskill   Hon.  Thomas  Nelson,  Jr. 

Piermont   Hon.  John  R.  Wood. 

Red  Hook   Hon.  William  S.  Massoneau. 

Rhinebeck   Hon.  Charles  A.  Marquet. 

Saugerties   Hon.  William  Ziegler. 

Schuylerville   Hon.  H.  C.  Munson. 

South  Glens  Falls  Hon.  Thomas  H.  Goundry. 

South  Nyack  Hon.  F.  E.  Leaycraft. 

Stillwater   Hon.  William  R.  Palmer. 

Tarrytown   Hon.  F.  R.  Pierson. 

Tivoli  Hon.  P.  H.  Morey. 

Upper  Nyack   Hon.  Frank  R.  Crumbie. 

\  ictory  Mills   Hon.  M.  E.  Kelly. 

Wappingers  Falls   Hon.  John  W.  Mullen. 

Waterford   Hon.  Anthony  J.  Weaver. 

West  Haverstraw   Hon.  Louis  Adler. 


428 


NEW  YORK  CITY 

AND 

THE  DEVELOPMENT  OF  TRADE 

A  READING  LIST 


NEW  AMSTERDAM  ABOUT   16  30 


THE  NEW  YORK 
PUBLIC  LIBRARY 

1914 


form  1.-005  Ivl  i-8-H  SOiiil 


MANHATTAN 


Mans  greatest  miracle  is  accomplished  here. 
Steeple  and  dome  he  hurls  high  in  the  air, 
Until,  like  dreams  in  marble  and  in  stone, 
They  lift  their  wonder  to  a  world  ama::ed. 

Behind  the  poem  is  the  poet's  sonl; 
Behind  the  canvas  throbs  the  artist's  heart; 
Behind  all  music  lie  nnfathomed  tones 
Known  only  dimly  to  one  Master  mind. 
So  here,  when  visions  of  new  beauty  rise. 
Behind  them  float  the  dreams  of  cities  old 
Fallen  now  to  silence,  with  the  dust  of  kings. 
Who  wrought  these  granite  ghosts,  saw  more  than  we 
May  ever  see.    He  saw  pale,  tenuous  lines 
On  some  age-mellowed  shore  where  cities  rose 
Proudly  as  Corinth  or  imperial  Rome ; 
He  saw,  through  mists  of  vision,  Baghdad  leap 
To  immaterial  being,  and  he  sought 
To  snatch  one  curve  from  her  elusive  domes; 
He  saw  lost  Nineveh  and  Babylon, 
And  Tyre,  and  all  the  golden  dreams  of  Greece, 
Columns  and  fanes  that  cannot  be  rebuilt, 
Ev'n  as  Shakespearian  lines  can  never  sing 
Again  on  any  poefs  resplendent  page, 
But  the  vague  Source  of  these  most  lovely  things 
Were  his  for  one  high  instant ;  and  he  caught 
Their  spirit  and  their  glory  for  all  time. 
These  are  the  shadows  of  far  nobler  walls. 
The  wraiths  of  ancient  pomp  and  glittering  days. 
Set  here  by  master  minds  and  master  souls. 
Almost  as  wonderful  as  mountains  are. 
Mysterious  as  the  petals  of  a  flower. 
  —  Charles  Hanson  Towne. 

(From  his  Manhattan,  p.  36-37,  published  by  Mitchell  Kennerley.)  ' 


3 


This  list  was  compiled  to  meet  the  many  enquiries 
of  citizens  of  New  York  and  visitors  to  the  city  in 
relation  to  its  history,  the  development  of  its  trade 
and  transportation,  and  its  historic  sites. 

The  longer  histories  have  been  purposely  omitted. 
A  star  (*)  indicates  that  a  book  is  out  of  print  or 
not  easily  obtained.  The  library  does  not  circulate 
the  starred  books,  but  they  may  all  be  consulted  at 
the  Central  Library  and  many  of  them  may  be  seen 
at  the  branch  libraries. 

In  the  preparation  of  this  list,  the  compiler  has 
received  valuable  suggestions  from  Mr.  Wilberforce 
Eames  and  Mr.  Robert  A.  Campbell  of  The  New  York 
Public  Library  and  Dr.  Frank  Bergen  Kelly  of  the 
City  History  Club  of  New  York. 

From  September  15  to  October  15  an  exhibit  of 
books,  old  prints  and  pictures  relating  to  New  York 
City  is  held  in  the  Children's  Room  of  the  Central 
Building. 


4 


CONTENTS 


HISTORY 

The  Discovery. 

Giovanni  da  Verrazano  discovers  the  Island  of  Mana- 
HA-TA.  1524. 

Henry  Hudson  sails  up  the  ''River  of  Mountains.""  1609. 

New  Amsterdam.  1626-1664. 

Peter  Minuit  purchases  Manhattan  Island  from  the 
Indians. 

The  Patroons  and  the  Old  Manor  Houses. 
Peter  Stuyvesant.  1647-1664. 

Nev^  Amsterdam  becomes  Nev^  York. 
Jacob  Leisler.  1689-1691. 

The  Revolutionary  War.  1775-1783. 
John  Andre. 
Nathan  Hale. 
Alexander  Hamilton. 

New  York  after  the  Revolution. 
The  Civil  War. 

Some  General  Histories. 

TRADE  AND  ITS  DEVELOPMENT 

The  West  India  Company. 

The  Five  Nations  and  the  Fur  Trade. 
Sir  William  Johnson. 

The  Colonial  Sea-Port. 

Privateers  and  Pirates.   Captain  Kidd. 

The  Free  City. 

The  War  of  1812. 

5 


Trade  and  its  Development  —  The  Free  City,  continued. 
Old  Merchants  of  New  York. 

John  Jacob  Astor. 

Peter  Cooper. 
Samuel  Morse  and  the  Telegraph.  1791-1872. 

Transportation. 
Robert  Fulton. 
The  Erie  Canal. 
Railroads. 

The  Elevated  Railroad. 

Brooklyn  Bridge  and  other  Bridges. 

Tunnels. 

The  Old  Subways. 
The  New  Subways. 
The  Barge  Canal. 

THE  MODERN  CITY 
The  Catskill  Aqueduct. 
Parks. 

The  Statue  of  Liberty. 

Races  of  People  in  New  York. 

Some  Historic  Places  in  the  Modern  City. 
The  Battery. 
Bowling  Green. 
Frauinces  Tavern. 
Wall  Street. 
The  Bowery. 
Greenwich  Village. 
Chelsea. 
Broadway. 

The  Jumel  Mansion. 
The  Bronx. 

The  Van  Cortlandt  Manor-House. 
Brooklyn. 
Staten  Island. 

6 


NEW  YORK  CITY  AND  THE 
DEVELOPMENT  OF 
TRADE 

Compiled  by  Elsie  Gansevoort  Seymour 


HISTORY 

"A  wooded  island  upon  the  border  of  a  vast,  unexplored, 
picturesque  wild,  three  thousand  jniles  from  civilization,  becomes 
within  three  centuries  the  seat  of  the  arrogant  metropolis  of 
the  Western  world ..  .'hardly  did  old  Rome  herself  emerge  from 
a  more  mysterious  and  fascinating  crucible  of  legend  and  tradi- 
tion.' '  — Mrs.  Lamb. 

The  Discovery 

Giovanni  da  Verrazano  discovers  the  island  of 
Mana-ha-ta.  1524 

Verrazano  commanded  the  first  French  expedition  to  America  sent  out 
by  King  Francis  I  of  France.  Late  in  the  year  1523  he  started  on  his 
voyage  across  the  Atlantic,  in  the  "Dauphinc,"  hoping  to  reach  China  by 
a  westward  route.  He  discovered  the  American  coast  not  far  from  North 
Carolina,  and  sailed  northward  as  far  as  Newfoundland  and  thence  back  to 
France.  Among  other  places,  he  stopped  at  New  York  harbor  which  he 
described  as:  ''A  very  pleasant  place  situated  among  certaine  little,  steepe 
hills;  from  amidst  the  which  hills  there  ranne  downe  to  the  sea  an  exceeding 
great  streme  of  water." 

Fiske,  John.   The  Dutch  and  Quaker  colonies  in  America,  v.  1, 
p.  60-68.  Houghton. 

Johnson,  \V.  H.    Verrazano  explores  the  coast  of  the  United 
States.    (In  his  World's  discoverers,  p.  177-188.  Little.) 

Verrazano's  voyage.     (In  Old  South  leaflets,  v.  1,  no.  17. 
Directors  of  the  Old  South  work.) 

Verrazano's  letter  to  the  king  describing  his  voyage.  It  is  the  earliest  / 
description  known  to  exist  of  the  shores  of  the  United  States. 

Henry  Hudson  sails  up  the  "River  of  the 

Mountains."  1609 

Henry  Hudson's  third  and  most  famous  voyage  was  in  the  service  of 
the  Dutch  East  India  Company.    He  sailed  from  Amsterdam  in  the  "Half 

7 


Moon"  about  the  first  of  April  1609,  to  search  for  a  northerly  passage  to 
China.  Instead,  he  found  the  mouth  of  the  great  river  which  now  bears  his 
name.  He  explored  the  river  as  far  as  Albany,  having  many  encounters 
with  the  Indians;  some  of  them  were  friendly  "and  brought  tobacco  and 
Indian  wheat  to  exchange  for  knives  and  beades,  and  offered  us  no  violence." 
Hudson  described  the  new  country  as  **The  finest  land  for  cultivation  that 
I  ever  in  my  life  set  foot  upon." 

Bacon,  E.  M.  Henry  Hudson;  his  times  and  his  voyages. 
Putnam. 

The  discovery  of  the  Hudson  River.  (In  Old  South  leaflets, 
V.  4,  no.  94.    Directors  of  the  Old  South  work.) 

From  the  Journal  of  Robert  Juet  who  kept  the  log  of  the  "Half  Moon." 

Griffis,  W.  E.  The  orange,  white,  and  blue  in  the  Hudson 
River.  (In  his  Romance  of  discovery,  p.  233-245. 
Wilde.) 

Higginson,  T.  W.  Henry  Hudson  and  the  New  Netherlands. 
(In  his  Book  of  American  explorers,  p.  279-307.  Long- 
mans.) 

Janvier,  T.  A.    Henry  Hudson.  Harper. 

A  brief  history  of  Henry  Hudson  and  his  four  voyages. 

Johnson,  W.  H.  Hudson's  exploration  of  the  Hudson  River. 
(In  his  World's  discoverers,  p.  328-335.  Little.) 


New  Amsterdam.  1626-1664 

As  a  result  of  Hudson's  discovery  the  city  of  New  Amsterdam  was 
founded  by  the  Dutch  West  India  Company,  and  the  Island  of  Manhat- 
tan was  purchased  from  the  Indians  for  a  fe^y  beads  and  trinkets  worth 
about  twenty-four  dollars.  The  Company  appointed  a  Director-General  or 
Governor  to  manage  the  affairs  of  the  colony.  There  were  seven  Dutch 
governors,  the  most  important  being:  Peter  Minuit,  Wouter  van  Twiller, 
William  Kieft  and  Peter  Stuyvesant. 

John  R'^meyn  Brodhead  writes  of  these  early  founders  of  New  York: 
"To  Holland  they  felt  a  deep,  unalterable,  hereditary  attachment.  Nor  have 
the  vicissitudes  of  time  extinguished  that  sentiment  in  their  descendants. 
Two  centuries  have  scarcely  weakened  the  veneration  which  citizens  of  New 
York  of  Dutch  lineage  proudly  cherish  toward  the  fatherland." 

De  Vries,  D.  P.    New  Netherland  in  1640.    (In  Old  South 
leaflets,  v.  7,  no.  168.   Directors  of  the  Old  South  work.) 

From  his  "Short  historical  and  journal  notes"  published  in  1655.  It 
gives  glimpses  of  New  Amsterdam  and  also  of  the  Dutch  and  Indian  life 
on  the  Hudson  as  far  as  Albany. 

*  The  Dutch  on  Manhattan.   Harper's  monthly  magazine,  v.  9, 
p.  433-453,  1854. 

Earle,  A.  M.   Colonial  days  in  old  New  York.  Scribner. 

Social  life  and  customs  of  the  early  Dutch  settlers. 

8 


Fiske,  John.    The  Dutch  and  Quaker  colonies  in  America,  v. 
1.  Houghton. 

Gordy,  W.  F.    The  Dutch  and  New  Netherland.     (In  his 

Colonial  days,  p.  151-172.  Scribner.) 
Griffis,  W.  E.    The  story  of  New  Netherland;  the  Dutch  in 

America.  Houghton. 

Who  the  founders  of  the  Empire  State  were,  and  what  ideas  and  customs 
they  brought  to  it. 

Hemstreet,  Charles.    Writers  of  New  Amsterdam.    (In  his 

Literary  New  York,  p.  1-24.  Putnam.) 
*  Higginson,  T.  W.    Old  Dutch  times  in  New  York.  St. 

Nicholas,  v.  1,  p.  674-679,  1874. 
Innes,  J.  H.    New  Amsterdam  and  its  people;  studies,  social 
and  topographical,  of  the  town  under  Dutch  and  Eng- 
lish rule.  Scribner. 
Illustrated  from  old  prints,  portraits  and  maps. 

Irving,  Washington.    Dolph  Heyliger.  Heath. 

A  legendary  tale  of  the  Dutch  in  New  York. 

  A  history  of  New  York;  by  Diedrich  Knickerbocker. 

Putnam. 

An  unhistorical  histo-y. 

  The  legend  of  Sleepy  Hollow.    (In  his  Sketchbook,  p. 

474-521.  Putnam.) 

"The  dominant  spirit,  however,  that  haunts  this  enchanted  region,  and 
seems  to  be  commander-in-chief  of  all  the  powers  of  the  air,  is  the  appari- 
tion of  a  figure  on  horseback  without  a  head." 

—  From  The  legend  of  Sleepy  Hollow. 

  Rip    Van    Winkle;    illustrated    by    Arthur  Rackham. 

Doubleday. 

A  legend  of  the  Catskills. 

"The.  .  .Catskill  mountains  have  always  been  a  region  full  of  fable.  The 
Indians  considered  them  the  abode  of  spirits,  who  influenced  the  weather, 
spreading  sunshine  or  clouds  over  the  landscape,  and  sending  good  or  bad 
hunting  seasons."  —  Washington  Irving. 

Jameson,  J.  F.    Narratives  of  New  Netherland.  1609-1664. 
Scribner. 

Some  of  the  most  interesting  of  the  contemporary  Dutch  narratives 
translated  into  English. 

Janvier,  T.  A.    The  Dutch  founding  of  New  York.  Harper. 

The  illustrations  have  been  redrawn  from  old  prints. 

Sage,  A.  C.    A  little  colonial  dame;  a  story  of  old  Manhattan 

Island.  Stokes. 
Steendam,  Jacob.    The  complaint  of  New  Amsterdam.  (In 

Stevenson,  B.  E.    Poems  of  American  history,  p.  53-54. 

Houghton.) 

Published  in  1659.  Jacob  Steendam  was  the  earliest  poet  in  New 
Amsterdam. 


  The  praise  of  New  Netherland.    (In  Stevenson,  B.  E. 

Poems  of  American  history,  p.  52-53.  Houghton.) 

Tappan,  E.  M.  Letters  from  colonial  children,  p.  188-232. 
Houghton. 

Letters  written  by  Polly  Bergen  of  New  Amsterdam  to  her  aunt  in 
England. 

Van  der  Donck,  Adrian.  Description  of  the  New  Netherlands. 
(In  Old  South  leaflets,  v.  3,  no.  69.  Directors  of  the 
Old  South  work.) 

Written  about  1655.  *'The  most  important  work  which  has  come 
down  to  us  describing  New  York  in  the  early  period."  —  Note. 

Van  Rensselaer,  Mrs.  Schuyler.  History  of  the  city  of  New 
York.   V.  1.  Macmillan. 

The  history  of  the  settlement  planted  by  the  Dutch  on  the  island  of 
Manhattan  from  its  earliest  days  until  the  fall  of  New  Amsterdam. 


Peter  Minuit  purchases  Manhattan  Island  from  the 
Indians.  1626 

"After  these  countries  had  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Incorporated 
West  India  Company ...  said  Company  purchased  from  the  Indians,  who 
were  the  indubitable  owners  thereof,  the  island  of  the  Manhathes,  situate 
at  the  entrance  of  the  river,  and  there  laid  the  foundations  of  a  city."  — 
The  West  India  Company  to  the  States  General  of  the  United  Netherlands. 

Irving,  Washington.    A  history  of  New  York;  by  Diedrich 
Knickerbocker,  p.  138-140.  Putnam. 

Todd,  C.  B.    Peter  Minuit.    (In  his  Story  of  the  city  of  New 
York,  p.  19-39.  Putnam.) 


The  Patroons  and  The  Old  Manor  Houses 

"To  encourage  agriculture  and  to  create  permanent  homes,  the  West 
India  Company  in  1629  issued  its  famous  charter  of  'Privileges  and  Exemp- 
tions.* This  charter  declared  that  any  member  of  the  Company  who  should 
within  the  next  four  years  bring  to  New  Netherland  fifty  grown-up  persons 
and  settle  them  in  homes  nlong  the  Hudson  River  should  receive  a  liberal 
grant  of  land,  to  hold  as  'patroon'  or  'lord  of  the  manor.**'  —  John  Fiske. 

Bacon,  E.  M.    Early  settlers  of  the  Hudson  valley.    (In  his 
Hudson  River  from  ocean  to  source,  p.  87-99.  Putnam.) 

  An  old  Dutch  town.    (In  his  Hudson  River  from  ocean 

to  source,  p.  516-549.  Putnam.) 

10 


Brooks,  E.  S.  The  little  lord  of  the  manor.  (In  his  Chivalric 
days,  p.  283-308.  Putnam.) 

A  short  story  of  Philipse  manor  during  the  Revolution 

Fiske,  John.  ''Privileges  and  exemptions."  (In  his  Dutch 
and  Quaker  colonies,  v.  1,  p.  127-157.  Houghton.) 

Grant,  Mrs.  A.  M.     Memoirs  of  an  American  lady;  with 
sketches  of  manners  and  scenes  in  America,  as  they 
existed   previous  to  the  Revolution.  Dodd. 
"Written  nearly  half  a  century  after  the  occurrence  of  the  events 
described,  entirely  from  memory."  -  Preface. 

The  "American  Lady"  was  Madame  Schuyler. 

Harland,  Marion,  pseud.  Oak  Hill,  upon  the  Livingston 
manor.  (In  her  Colonial  homesteads,  v.  1,  p.  201-238. 
Putnam.) 

 The  Philipse  manor-house.  (In  her  Colonial  home- 
steads, v.  1,  p.  239-275.  Putnam.) 

Humphreys,  M.  G.    Catherine  Schuyler.  Scribner. 

"Through  the  position  of  her  own  family  and  as  the  wife  of  General 
Philip  Schuyler,  she  is  a  representative  figure  among  the  women  of  the 
Dutch  colony  and  the  matrons  of  the  Revolution."  —  Preface. 

Jameson,  J.  F.  Narratives  of  New  Netherland,  p.  89-96. 
Scribner. 

A  translation  of  the  famous  charter  of  "Privileges  and  Exemptions 
of  Patroons"  issued  by  the  West  India  Company. 

Rayner,  Emma.    Free  to  serve.  Page. 

A  story  of  life  in  an  old  manor  house  on  the  Hudson. 


Peter  Stuyvesant.  1647-1664 

Peter  Stuyvesant  was  the  last  and  most  famous  of  the  Dutch  gover- 
nors. "He  came  to  Mimhattan  in  the  employ  of  a  mercantile  corporation; 
but  his  whole  heart  and  soul  became  enlisted  in  the  welfare  of  the  country 
of  his  adoption."  —  Mrs.  Lamb. 

Barr,  A.  E.  H.  A  maid  of  old  New  York;  a  romance  of  Peter 
Stuyvesant's  time.  Dodd. 

Bennett,  John.    Barnaby  Lee.  Century. 

How  he  escapes  from  pirates  and  of  his  adventures  in  New  Amsterdam 
in  the  days  of  Peter  Stuyvesant. 

Stedman,  E.  C.  Peter  Stuyvesant's  New  Year's  call.  (In 
Stevenson,  B.  E.  Poems  of  American  history,  p.  54-56. 
Houghton.) 

Tuckerman,  Bayard.  Peter  Stuyvesant,  director-general  for 
the  West  India  Company  in  New  Netherland.  Dodd. 

A  history  of  his  administration. 

11 


New  Amsterdam  becomes  New  York 

In  1664  the  English  forced  the  Dutch  to  surrender  their  settlements, 
declaring  them  to  be  theirs  by  right  of  discovery,  through  the  Pilgrims  in 
1620,  and  even  through  the  Cabots  as  far  back  as  1497.  The  English  took 
possession  in  the  name  of  the  Duke  of  York,  in  whose  honor  New  Amster- 
dam was  renamed  New  York. 

Altsheler,  J.  A.    A  soldier  of  Manhattan.  Appleton. 

A  story  of  the  French  and  Indian  war. 

Barr,  A.  E.  H.    The  house  on  Cherry  Street.  Dodd. 

A  story  of  New  York  in  Governor  Cosby's  time  in  which  Zenger  and 
the  **  Weekly  Journal"  are  described. 

The  "Weekly  Journal"  was  started  in  1734  by  John  Peter  Zenger.  It 
supported  the  popular  party  which  was  opposed  to  the  Governor.  Zenger 
was  arrested  on  a  charge  of  libel,  but  at  his  trial  the  jury  returned  a  verdict 
of  "not  guilty."  This  trial  is  said  to  have  secured  the  freedom  of  the 
press  in  America. 

*  Creve-Coeur,  St.  John  de.    New  York  in  1772.    Magazine  of 

American  history,  v.  2,  p.  748-751,  1879. 

Danckaerts,  Jasper.    Journal,  1679-1680;  edited  by  Bartlett 
Burleigh  James  and  J.  Franklin  Jameson.  Scribner. 
"The  journal  of  two  m(>mbers  of  the  Labadist  sect  who  came  over 
to  this  country  in  order  to  find  a  location  for  the  establishment  of  a  com- 
nuin!ty."  —  Introduction. 

*  Earle,  Mrs.  A.  M.   Stage-coach  and  tavern  days.  Macr^illan. 

Fiske,  John.  The  Dutch  and  Quaker  colonies  in  America. 
V.  2.  Houghton. 

*  Freedom  of  the  press  vindicated.    Harper's  monthly  maga- 

zine, V.  57,  p.  293-298,  1878. 

Zenger's  trial. 

*  Gerard,  J.  W.  The  Dongan  charter  of  the  city  of  New  York. 

Magazine  of  American  history,  v.  16,  p.  30-49,  1886. 

An  accouiU  of  Gov.  Dongan's  administration;  illustrated. 

Hine,  C.  G.    The  New  York  and  Albany  post  road.  Hine. 

*  Lamb,  Mrs.  M.  J.    The  golden  age  of  colonial  New  York. 

Magazine  of  American  history,  v.  24,  p.  1-30,  1890. 

New  York  in  1768. 

*  Old  New  York  coffee-houses.    Harper's  monthly  magazine, 

v.  64,  p.  481-499,  1882. 

Parsons,  C.  VV.  The  first  mayor  of  New  York;  Thomas 
VVillett.  Magazine  of  American  history,  v.  17,  p.  233- 
242,  1887. 

After  England  had  captured  New  York,  the  Dutch  names  of  the 
city  officials  were  changed  from  Schout,  Burgomasters,  and  Schepcns  to 
the  English  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Sheriff.  Thomas  Willett  was  the  first 
mayor.    He  was  appointed  by  Governor  Nicolls  in  1665. 

12 


Paulding,  J.  K.    The  Dutchman's  fireside.  Newson. 

A  story  of  the  old  French  and  Indian  war. 

Singleton,  Esther.  Social  New  York  under  the  Georges,  1714- 
1776;  houses,  streets  and  country  homes,  with  chap- 
ters on  fashions,  furniture,  china,  plate  and  manners. 
Appleton. 

Smith,  H.  E.   Colonial  days  and  ways.  Century. 

An  account  of  the  homes  and  amusements  of  the  Dutch  and  English 
settlers. 

*  Stevens,  J.  A.  Old  New  York  taverns.  Harper's  monthly 
magazine,  v.  80,  p.  842-864,  1890. 

Todd,  C.  B.  English  rule.  (In  his  Story  of  the  city  of  New 
York,  p.  131-368.  Putnam.) 

Van  Rensselaer,  Mrs.  Schuyler.    History  of  the  city  of  New 
York,  V.  2.  Macmillan. 
The  English  period  from  1664  to  1691. 

Williams,  Sherman.  Under  English  rule.  (In  his  Stories 
from  early  New  York  history,  p.  42-55.  Scribner.) 


Jacob  Leisler.  1689-1691. 

After  the  downfall  of  the  Stuarts  the  popular  party  in  New  York  rose, 
under  Jacob  Leisler,  and  seized  the  government.  They  held  it  until  the 
arrival  of  Govi'rnor  Sloughter,  who  had  been  appointed  by  William  and 
Mary.  He  threw  Leisler  and  his  associate  Milborne  into  prison.  At  their 
trial  they  were  found  guilty  of  high  treason  and  were  sentenced  to  be 
hung. 

Brooks,  E.  S.    In  Leisler's  time.  Lothrop. 

A  story  of  "the  real  boys  and  girls  who... romped  and  chatted  in  the 
little  Knickerbocker  town"  and  "an  attempt  to  reclaim  from  unmerited 
oblivion  the  name.  .  .of ..  .Jacob  Leisler ..  .the  first  representative  of  the 
American  people  and  one  of  the  remote  causes  of  American  independence." 

—  Preface. 

Bynner,  E.  L.    The  Begum's  daughter.  Houghton. 

The  Begum  was  an  East  Indian  who  married  a  Dutch  gentleman  living 
in  New  York.  Leisler  and  his  two  daughters,  Mary  and  Hester,  are  im- 
portant characters  in  the  story  as  well  as  Catalina,  the  Begum's  daughter. 

*  Hemstreet,  Charles.    Flower  of  the  Fort.  Pott. 

A  story  of  Leisler's  daughter,  Mary,  who  remained  loyal  to  the 
governor. 

Roosevelt,  Theodore.    The  usurpation  of  Leisler.     (In  his 
New  York,  p.  60-72.  Longmans.) 


13 


Van  Rensselaer,  Mrs.  Schuyler.    History  of  the  city  of  New 
York,  V.  2,  p.  403-568.  Macmillan. 

Wilson,  R.  R.    Leisler's  rise  and  fall.    (In  his  New  York: 
old  &  new,  v.  1,  p.  107-127.  Lippincott.) 


The  Revolutionary  War.  1775-1783 

"We,  therefore,  the  representatives  of  the  United  States  of  America,  in 
General  Congress  assembled,  appealing  to  the  Supreme  Judge  of  the  World 
for  the  rectitude  of  our  intentions,  do,  in  the  name,  and  by  the  authority 
of  the  good  people  of  these  colonies,  solemnly  publish  and  declare.  That 
these  United  Colonies  are,  and  of  right  ought  to  be  Free  and  Independent 
States."  —  From  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

Barr,  A.  E.  H.   The  bow  of  orange  ribbon.  Dodd. 

A  story  of  New  York  just  before  the  Revolution.  The  Stamp  Act, 
the  Sons  of  Liberty  and  Marinus  Willett  are  described. 

 The  maid  of  Maiden  Lane;  a  sequel  to  "A  bow  of  orange 

ribbon."  Dodd. 
New  York  directly  after  the  Revolution. 

*  Barrow,  E.  N.    The  fortune  of  war.  Holt. 

How  the  daughter  of  an  English  general  obtained  the  freeuom  of 
an  American  officer  who  was  a  prisoner  of  war. 

*  Bolton,  R.  P.    Fort  Washington.    Empire  State  Society  of 

the  Sons  of  the  Revolution. 

Contains  a  history  of  the  defence  and  reduction  of  Fort  Washington. 

Fiske,  John.    The  American  Revolution.    2  v.  Houghton. 

Ford,  P.  L.     Janice  Meredith;  a  story  of  the  American 
Revolution.  Dodd. 

*  Hemstreet,  Charles.    In  the  footsteps  of  Washington.  The 

Outlook,  v.  70,  p.  300-308,  1902. 

The  events  in  Washington's  life  which  took  place  in  New  York; 
illustrated. 

*  Johnston,  H.  P.    The  battle  of  Harlem  Heights,  September 

16,  1776.  Macmillan. 
*  The  campaign  of  1776  around  New  York  and  Brook- 
lyn.   Long  Island  Historical  Society. 

*  Lossing,  B.  J.    The  pictorial  field-book  of  the  Revolution. 

2  v.  Harper. 

*  McMaster,  J.  B.        Washington's  inauguration.  Harper's 

monthly  magazine,  v.  78,  p.  671-686,  1889. 

14 


Masori)  A.  B.    Tom  Strong,  boy  captain.  Holt. 

New  York  directly  after  the  Revolution.  The  story  ends  with  Wash- 
ington's inauguration.    It  is  a  sequel  to  Tom  Strong,  Washington's  scout. 

  Tom  Strong,  Washington's  scout.  Holt. 

The  adventures  of  a  boy  during  the  Revolution.  There  are  descrip- 
tions of  the  battles  of  Long  Island  and  Harlem  Heights. 

Morris,  Charles.  The  British  at  New  York.  (In  his  Historical 
tales;  American,    v.  1,  p.  180-188.  Lippincott.) 

How  Mrs.  Murray  entertained  the  English  general,  Sir  Henry  Clinton, 
and  his  officers,  thus  detaining  them,  so  that  General  Putnam  and  his 
army  were  able  to  march  out  of  the  city  and  join  Washington  at  Harlem 
Heights. 

*  New  York  prison-ships.    Harper's  Young  People,  v.  1,  p. 

478-479,  1882. 

Describes  the  old  Jersey,  the  largest  of  the  prison-ships,  which  was 
stationed  where  the  Brooklyn  Navy  Yard  now  lies;  and  also  a  few  of  the 
many  curious  escapes  of  the  prisoners. 

New  York  prisons  in  \776-7.    Harper's  Young  People,  v.  1, 
p.  204,  1880. 

*  New  York*s  first  great  fire.    Harper's  Young  People,  v.  1, 

p.  181,  1880. 

"The  first  great  fire  in  New  York  happened  in  September,  1776,  just 
after  Washington  had  been  driven  from  the  city." 

Roosevelt,  Theodore.  The  Revolutionary  war.  (In  his  New 
York,  p.  123-141.  Longmans.) 

Shepherd,  W,  R.  The  battle  of  Harlem  Heights.  (In  Good- 
win, M.  VV.  and  others,  Historic  New  York,  v.  2,  p.  345- 
383.  Putnam.) 

Sloane,  W.  M.  The  loss  of  New  York  City.  (In  his  French 
war  and  the  Revolution,  p.  238-250.  Scribner.) 

*  Tuckerman,  Bayard.  Life  of  General  Philip  Schuyler.  Dodd. 

"From  the  days  when  Philip  Schuyler  led  his  company  of  provincials 
in  the  forest  fights  of  the  French  and  Indian  war,  until  he  sat  in  the 
Senate  of  the  United  States  as  the  representative  of  the  State  of  New 
York.  ..A  genuine  love  of  country  la^'  at  the  base  of  all  his  public  actions." 

Whittier,  J.  G.  The  vow  of  Washington.  (In  his  Complete 
poetical  works,  p.  467.  Houghton.) 

"Read  in  New  York,  April  30,  1889,  at  the  Centennial  Celebration  of 
the  Inauguration  of  George  Washington  as  the  first  President  of  the  United 
States." 

Williams,  Sherman.  New  York  in  the  Revolution.  (In  his 
Stories  from  early  New  York  history,  p.  75-78. 
Scribner.) 

15 


John  Andre 


Major  Andre  was  sent  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton  to  arrange  with  Benedict 
Arnold  for  the  surrender  of  West  Point.  The  place  appointed  for  the 
meeting  was  a  lonely  spot  on  the  west  shore  of  the  Hudson  near  Haver- 
straw.  On  his  return  he  was  captured  near  Tarrytown,  and  condemned 
as  a  spy.    He  was  executed  on  October  2,  1780  near  Tappaan  village. 

*  Barnard,  Charles.  The  artist-soldier.  St.  Nicholas,  v.  4,  p. 
233-234,  1877. 

Heath,  William.  The  execution  of  Andre.  (In  Hart,  A.  B.  and 
Mabel  Hill.  Camps  and  firesides  of  the  Revolution, 
p.  289-292.  Macmillan.) 

Lossing,  B.  J.  John  Andre.  (In  his  Two  spies,  p.  35-164. 
Appleton.) 


Nathan  Hale 

Nathan^  Hale,  wearing  citizen's  dress,  was  sent  by  Washington  into  the 
British  carnp  on  Long  Island,  to  obtain  information  about  their  plan  of 
action.  On  his  return  journey  he  reached  the  Long  Island  shore  in  safety. 
Between  the  soles  of  his  shoes  were  the  drawings  he  had  made  of  fortifica- 
tions, and  his  memoranda  written  in  Latin.  He  was  captured  while  still 
within  the  British  lines  and  executed  as  a  spy,  in  New  York,  September  22, 
1776. 

Finch,  F.  M.    Nathan  Hale.    (In  Eggleston,  G.  C.  American 
war  ballads  and  lyrics,  v.  1,  p.  40-42.  Putnam.) 

*  Johnston,  H.  P.    Nathan  Hale,  1776.    De  Vinne  Press. 

"The  power  of  Hale's  story  lies  in  the  simple  record." 

Lossing,  B.  J.    Nathan  Hale.     (In  his  Two  spies,  p.  1-34. 
Appleton.) 

Nathan  Hale.    (In  Stevenson,  B.  E.    Poems  of  American  his- 
tory, p.  185.  Houghton.) 

Stoddard,  W.  O.    Guert  Ten  Eyck.  Lothrop. 

The  story  of  a  boy's  adventures  during  the  Revolution,  and  of  his 
friendship  with  Nathan  Hale.  Washington,  Hamilton  and  other  historical 
characters  come  into  the  story. 


Alexander  Hamilton 

'The  Patriot  of  incoi  ruptible  integrity 

The  Soldier  of  approved  valor 

The  Statesman  of  consummate  wisdom 

Whose  talents  and  virtues  will  be  admired  by  Grateful  Posterity 
Long  after  this  marble  shall  have  moldereci  into  dust." 

—  Epitaph  on  Hamilton's  tomb  in  Trinity  Churchyard. 

16 


Atherton,  Mrs.  G.  F.  H.    The  conqueror.  Macmillan. 

The  life  of  Alexander  Hamilton  written  as  a  story,  describing  his 
boyhood  in  the  West  Indies,  as  well  as  his  later  life  in  New  York;  and 
ending  with  his  duel  with  Aaron  Burr. 

Fiske,  John.  Alexander  Hamilton  and  the  Federalist  party. 
(In  his  Essays  historical  and  literary,  v.  1,  p.  99-142. 
Macmillan.) 

Hamilton,  A.  M.  The  intimate  life  of  Alexander  Hamilton. 
Scribner. 

Morris,  Charles.  Alexander  Hamilton,  the  architect  of  Ameri- 
can finance.  (In  his  Heroes  of  progress  in  America, 
p.  76-84.  Lippincott.) 


New  York  after  the  Revolution 
Barr,  A.  E.  H.    Trinity  bells.  Dodd. 

The  captain  of  an  American  merchantman  was  taken  by  the  Algerian 
pirates  and  sold  as  a  slave  in  Tripoli.  The  story  describes  New  York 
at  this  period,  how  his  fa-nily  raised  the  ransom,  and  his  final  return. 

Bunner,  H.  C.   The  midge.  Scribner. 

A  story  of  the  old  French  quarter. 

Dillon,  Mrs.  M.  C.    Miss  Livingston's  companion.  Century. 

The  story  of  a  young  Englishman  who  comes  to  America  in  the  year 
1803.  Hamilton,  Burr,  Irving  and  Cooper  are  among  the  prominent  people 
he  meets. 

*  Francis,  J.  VV.  Old  New  York;  or,  Reminiscences  of  the 
past  sixty  years.  Widdleton. 
Dr.  Francis  ^yas  a  distinguished  physician  in  Ncnv  York  during  the 
first  half  of  the  nineteenth  centurj'.  "Few  American  citizens,  unconnected 
officially  with  public  affairs,  were  more  identified,  through  sympathy  and 
intelligence  with  the  development  of  the  country,  during  the  important 
period  indicated."     Henry  T.  Tuckerman. 

Hulbert,  A.  B.    Pioneer  roads,  v.  2.    Clark.    (Historic  high- 
ways of  America,    v.  12.) 
The  Genesee  Road  and  the  Catskill  Turnpike. 

Hutton,  Laurence.    A  boy  I  knew.    (In  his  A  boy  I  knew, 
four  dogs  and  some  more  dogs,  p.  3-57.  Harper.) 

The  author's  own  boyhood  in  lower  New  York. 

"He  was  afterwards  lost  in  Greenwich  Street,  having  gone  there  on 
the  back  step  of  an  ice-cart;  and  once  he  was  conveyed  as  far  as  the  Hudson 
River  Railroad  Depot,  at  Chambers  Street,  on  his  sled,  which  he  had 
hitched  to  the  milkman's  wagon,  and  could  not  untie.  This  was  very  serious 
indeed;  for  the  Boy  realized  that  he  had  not  only  lost  himself  but  his  sleigh, 
too." 


17 


Mines,  J.  F.  A  tour  around  New  York;  and,  My  summer  acre. 
Harper. 

"The  record  of  a  random  tour  through  places  whose  acquaintance  I 
made  as  a  boy,  that  recall  the  people  of  other  days  whom  I  have  known." 
From  A  tour  around  New  York. 

"My  summer  acre  fronts  upon  the  East  River,  near  the  spot  where 
the  waters  of  Hell  Gate  begin  to  seethe  and  swirl.  ..The  house  is  as  old  as 
our  second  war  with  Great  Britain.  It  was  built  for  the  summer  residence 
of  a  family  whose  city  mansion  was  then  in  the  neighborhood  of  the 
Bowling  Green." 

Morris,  Charles.  Horace  Greeley,  the  premier  of  American 
editors.  (In  his  Heroes  of  progress  in  America,  p.  287- 
295.  Lippincott.) 

Parton,  James.  James  Lenox,  book  collector.  (In  his  Cap- 
tains of  industry.  Second  series,  p.  302-314.  Hough- 
ton.) 

Pidgin,  C.  F.    Blennerhasset.  Grosset. 

The  story  of  Aaron  Burr's  life  after  his  duel  with  Hamilton. 

*  Rideing,  W.  H.  Croton  water.   The  Century  magazine,  v,  14, 

(old  series.)    p.  161-176,  1877. 

The  aqueduct  and  dam  and  how  they  were  built;  illustrated.  Mrs. 
Lamb,  describing  the  aqueduct  writes:  "A  dam  was  thrown  across  the 
Croton  River  creating  a  lake  five  miles  long,  from  which  a  conduit  of 
solid  masonry  was  constructed  to  the  city  forty-five  miles  in  length... 
On  the  4th  of  July,  1842,  the  Croton  River,  turned  into  its  new  and  enduring 
channel,  rushed  into  the  city.  The  event  was  celebrated  with  an  imposing 
military  and  civic  procession  seven  miles  in  length." 

Roosevelt,  Theodore.    New  York,  p.  142-226.  Longmans. 

Smith,  F.  H.    The  fortunes  of  Oliver  Horn.  Scribner. 

There  is  a  description  of  the  National  Academy  of  Design  in  early 
days. 

"Outside  <-he  bare  walls  of  these  rooms  there  was  hardly  a  student's 
easel  to  be  fuUnd  the  country  over. 

And  such  forlorn,  desolate  rooms;  up  two  flights  of  dusty  stairs,  in 
a  rickety,  dingy  loft  off  Broadway,  within  a  short  walk  of  Union  Square  — 
an  auction-room  on  the  ground  floor  and  a  bar-room  in  the  rear." 

Viele,  H.  K.    The  last  of  the  Knickerbockers.  Duffield. 

A  story  of  some  of  the  descendants  of  the  early  Dutch  settlers. 

*  White,  R.  G.    Old  New  York  and  its  houses.    The  Century 

magaziT?e,  v.  4,  (new  series.)    p.  845-859,  1883. 

Period  1830-45. 

Wilson,  R.  R.  New  York  as  a  free  city.  (In  his  New  York: 
old  &  new.    v.  1,  p.  257-390.  Lippincott.) 

18 


The  Civil  War 

New  York  was  opposed  to  the  war  in  the  beginning  and  every  effort 
was  made  to  avert  it.  But  after  Fort  Sumter  had  been  fired  on,  there 
were  no  more  loyal  and  patriotic  citizens  than  the  people  of  New  York. 

"The  Seventh  Regiment  of  the  New  York  National  Guards,  by  all  odds 
the  best  regiment  in  the  United  States  Militia,  was  the  first  in  the  whole 
country  to  go  to  the  front  and  reach  Washington,  securing  it  against  any 
sudden  surprise."  —  Theodore  Roosevelt. 

Aldrich,  T.  B.    My  cousin  the  colonel.    (In  his  Two  bites  at 
a  cherry,  with  other  tales,  p.  151-223.  Houghton.) 

A  short  story  of  New  York  just  after  the  Civil  war. 

King,  Charles.    From  school  to  battle-field.  Lippincott. 

The  story  of  two  boys  at  a  New  York  Latin  school.  At  the  outbreak 
of  the  Civil  war  they  joined  the  Northern  Army  under  General  McClellan. 

Roberts,  E.  H.    The  war  for  the  Union.    (In  his  New  York, 
V.  2,  p.  651-677.  Houghton.) 

Stoddard,  W.  O.    The  battle  of  New  York.  Appleton. 

A  story  of  the  draft-riots. 

Todd,  C.  B.    New  York  in  the  Civil  war.    (In  his  Story  of  the 
city  of  New  York,  p.  445-451.  Putnam.) 


Some  General  Histories 

Bacon,  E.  M.  The  Hudson  River  from  ocean  to  source,  his- 
torical, legendary,  picturesque.  Putnam. 

Bank  of  the  Manhattan  Company.  Historic  buildings  now 
standing  in  New  York  which  were  erected  prior  to  eigh- 
teen hundred.  Walton  advertising  and  printing  com- 
pany. 

An  illustrated  pamphlet. 

Goodwin,  M.  W.,  and  others.  Historic  New  York;  being  the 
first  and  second  series  of  the  Half  Moon  papers.  2  v. 
Putnam. 

Twenty-four  short  articles.  "These  monographs  do  not  attempt  to 
give  any  connected  history  of  the  city,  but  to  present  authentic  accounts 
of  localities  of  special  interest,  and  to  describe  the  features  peculiar  to 
the  life  of  the  olden  time  in  New  Amsterdam  and  early  New  York." 

—  Preface. 

Hemstreet,  Charles.  Literary  New  York;  its  landmarks  and 
associations.  Putnam. 

Beginning  with  "Writers  of  New  Amsterdam"  and  ending  with  "Some 
writers  of  to-day." 

19 


  Nooks  &  corners  of  old  New  York.  Scribner. 

  The  story  of  Manhattan.  Scribner. 

A  short  history  for  younger  children,  with  illustrations  from  old  prints 
and  wood  engravings. 

 •  When  old  New  York  was  young.  Scribner. 

Partial  contents: 

Christmas  in  Old  New  Amsterdam.  About  Old  St.  Paul's.  Around 
the  Collect  Pond.    The  pleasant  days  of  Cherry  Hill. 

Janvier,  T.  A.    In  old  New  York.  Harper. 

Historical  sketches  describing  the  growth  of  certain  localities. 

Jenkins,  Stephen.    The  old  Boston  post  road.  Putnam. 

A  history  of  the  oldest  post  road  from  New  York  to  Boston,  over 
which  the  first  post  rider  went  in  1673. 

*  Lamb,  Mrs.  M.  J.    Historic  homes  and  landmarks.  Maga- 

zine of  American  history,  v.  22,  p.  177-203,  1889. 

*  anci  Mrs.  Burton  Harrison.   History  of  the  city  of  New 

York;  its  origin,  rise  and  progress;  illustrated.  3  v. 
Barnes. 

Mines,  J.  F.  Walks  in  our  churchyards;  by  Felix  Oldboy. 
Peck. 

Trinity  churchyard,  St.  PauFs  churchyard,  and  St.  John's  churchyard. 
An  historical  account  of  these  churchyards  and  of  the  prominent  people 
who  are  buried  there. 

Morey,  W.  C.  The  government  of  New  York.  Macmillan. 

This  is  written  for  boys  and  girls  and  includes  an  account  of  the 
government  under  the  Dutch  and  English. 

Roberts,  E.  H.    New  York;  the  planting  and  the  growth  of 
the  Empire  State.    2  v.    Houghton.    (American  com- 
monwealths.) 
A  history  of  the  state  up  to  1903. 

Roosevelt,  Theodore.  New  York.  Longmans.  (Historic 
towns.) 

The  author  has  aimed  "to  sketch  the  workings  of  the  town's  life, 
social,  commercial  and  political  at  successive  periods.  .  .and  to  trace  the 
causes  which  gradually  changed  a  little  Dutch  trading-hamlet  into  a  huge 
American  city.**  —  Preface. 

*  Smith,  F.  H.   Charcoals  of  new  and  old  New  York.  Double- 

day. 

Full  page  illustrations  by  the  author. 

Todd,  C.  B.  A  brief  history  of  the  city  of  New  York.  Ameri- 
can Book  Company. 

*          In  olde  New  York;  sketches  of  old  times  and  places 

in  both  the  state  and  the  city.    The  Grafton  Press. 

20 


  The  story  of  the  city  of  New  York.  Putnam. 

The  story  of  the  founding  and  growth  of  the  city,  including  many 
picturesque  incidents. 

Ulmann,  Albert.    A  landmark  history  of  New  York;  also  the 
origin  of  street  names  and  a  bibliography.  Applcton. 
Told  in  the  form  of  conversations  with  three  children  as  they  visit 
the  historic  places  of  New  York. 

*  Valentine,  D.  T.    History  of  New  York  City.  Putnam. 

A  history  through  1756. 

The  wayfarer  in  New  York.  Macmillan. 

Quotations  from  well  known  authors  who  have  written  about  the 
different  sections  of  New  York. 

Wilson,  R.  R.    New  York:  old  &  new,  its  story,  streets  and 
landmarks.    2  v.  Lippincott. 
The  first  volume  is  a  history  of  the  city.    The  second  volume  describes 
the  topographical  features  of  early  New  York. 


TRADE  AND  ITS  DEVELOPMENT 

"The  crowning  city,  whose  merchants  are  princes,  whose  traf- 
fickers are  the  honorable  of  the  earth"       —  Isaiah  xxiii,  8. 


The  West  India  Company 

"In  1621,  the  great  West  India  Company  was  chartered  by  the  States- 
general  [of  Holland]  and  given  the  monopoly  of  the  American  trade;  and 
it  was  by  this  company  that  the  city  was  really  founded.** 

—  Theodore  Roosevelt. 

Fiske,  John.    The  West  India  Company.    (In  his  Dutch  and 
Quaker  colonies,  v.  1,  p.  96-126.  Houghton.) 

•         New  York  Commercial  Tercentenary  Commission. 

The  commercial  tercentenary  of  New  York,  1614-1914;  containing  a  brief 
history^  of  the  beginning  of  the  regularly  chartered  commerce  of  New 
Netherland  and  the  permanent  settlement  of  what  is  now  the  State  of 
New  York.  1914. 

Roosevelt,  Theodore.    New  York,  p.  9-11.  Longmans. 

Todd,  C.  B.    The  story  of  the  city  of  New  York,  p.  11-15. 
Putnam. 

Wilson,  R.  R.   The  West  India  Company.    (In  his  New  York; 
old  &  new,  v.  1,  p.  15-25.  Lippincott.) 

21 


The  Five  Nations  and  The  Fur  Trade 

In  the  early  days  of  the  Dutch  and  English  many  of  the  young  men 
set  out  on  journeys  to  the  interior  to  trade  with  the  Indians.  "The  small 
bark  canoe  in  which  this  hardy  adventurer  embarked ...  was  entirely  filled 
with ...  blankets,  guns,  powder,  beads,  etc.,  suited  to  the  various  wants  and 
fancies  of  the  natives.  ..Without  compass,  or  guide  of  any  kind,  the  traders 
steered  through  these  pathless  forests."  —  Mrs.  Grant. 

Canfield,  W.  W.   At  Seneca  Castle.  Button. 

A  story  of  General  Sullivan's  campaign  against  the  Iroquois  in  1779. 
A  sequel  to  the  White  Seneca. 

  The  White  Seneca.  Button. 

"For  the  entertainment  of  those  American  boys  and  girls  who  love 
a  rugged  story  of  adventure,  I  propose  to  write  some  account  of  my  cap- 
tivity by  the  Indians  and  the  several  years  I  lived  in  their  village." 

Cooper,  J.  F.    The  Beerslayer.  Putnam. 

Leather-stocking  tales,  part  1. 

  The  Last  of  the  Mohicans;  with  illustrations  by  E.  Boyd 

Smith.  Holt. 

Leather-stocking  tales,  part  2, 

"Why  do  my  brothers  mourn !...  that  a  young  man  has  gone  to  the 
happy  hunting-grounds;  that  a  chief  has  filled  his  time  with  honor!... The 
Manitou  had  need  of  such  a  w^^.rrior,  and  he  has  called  him  away." 

  The  pathfinder;  or,  The  Inland  sea.  Putnam. 

Leather-stocking  tales,  part  3. 

  The  pioneers.  Putnam. 

Leather-stocking  tales,  part  4. 

  Wyandotte.  Putnam. 

Indian  warfare  on  Otsego  lake  during  the  Revolution. 

Diefendorf,  M.  R.    The  historic  Mohawk.  Putnam. 

"The  settlemen*:s,  the  customs,  and  the  struggles  of  its  early  days." 

—  Preface. 

Drake,  F.  S.    The  Iroquois.    (In  his  Indian  history,  p.  127- 
144.  Karper.) 

Foote,  M.  H.    The  royal  Americans.  Houghton. 

Plow  a  little  French  girl  who  had  been  taken  captive  by  the  Indians 
was  adopted  by  an  English  officer.  Madam  Schuyler,  Sir  John  Johnson, 
Madame  de  Riedesel  and  other  historic  characters  come  into  the  story. 

Frederic,  Harold.    In  the  valley.  Scribner. 

A  story  of  the  Mohawk  Valley.  1757-1780. 

"Therefore,  I  say,  all  honor  and  glory  to  the  rude,  unlettered,  great- 
souled  yeomen  of  the  Mohawk  Valley,  who  braved  death... that  Congress 
and  the  free  Colotiics  might  live." 

Griffis,  W.  E.   The  pathfinders  of  the  Revolution.  Wilde. 

"Their  great  expedition  of  1779  into  the  lake  region  of  central  and 
western  New  York,  broke  completely  the  power  of  the  Iroquois  Confederacy." 

—  Preface. 

22 


Halsey,  F.  W.  The  old  New  York  frontier;  its  wars  with 
Indians  and  Tories,  its  missionary  schools,  pioneers  and 
land  titles.    1614-1800.  Scribner. 

Hulbert,  A.  B.    Indian  thoroughfares.    Clark.    (Historic  high- 
ways of  America,  v.  2.) 
"To  one  who  is  imaginative  the  old  days  will  come  back:  the  trail 
and  forest  are  again  peopled,  border  armies  hurry  by,  and  the  long  stream 
of  immigration  floods  the  land.'*  — Preface. 

 Portage  paths.    Clark.    (Historic  highways  of  America, 

V.  7.)  . 

"These  places  are  called  portages,  inasmuch  as  one  is  compelled  to 
transport  on  his  shoulders  all  the  baggage,  and  even  the  boat,  in  order  to 
go  and  find  some  other  river,  or  make  one's  way  around  these  rapids  and 
torrents."  —  The  Jesuit  relations. 

Johnston,  C.  H.  L.  Captain  Joseph  Brant:  the  warrior  chief 
of  the  Mohawks.  (In  his  Famous  Indian  chiefs,  p.  254- 
283.  Page.) 

  Red  Jacket,  or  Sa-go-ye-wat-ha :  the  great  orator  of  the 

Senecas.  (In  his  Famous  Indian  chiefs,  p.  230-253. 
Page.) 

Parkman,  Francis.    The  Jesuits  in  North  America.  Little. 

"Marvellous  adventures  and  sacrifices,  and  vivid  pictures  of  forest 
life.**  —  Preface. 

Reid,  W.  M.  The  Mohawk  Valley;  its  legends  and  its  history. 
Putnam. 

From  1609  to  1780. 

Seelye,  E.  E.  and  Edward  Eggleston.  Brant  and  Red  Jacket. 
Dodd. 

The  lives  of  two  Iroquois  chiefs  who  lived  during  the  old  French 
war   and   the  Revolution. 

*  Simms,  J.  R.  The  frontiersmen  of  New  York;  showing  the 
customs  of  tiie  Indians,  vicissitudes  of  the  pioneer  white 
settlers,  and  the  border  strife  in  two  wars;  with  a  great 
variety  of  romantic  and  thrilling  stories  never  before 
published.    2  v.    Albany,  1882.  Riggs. 

Smith,  Richard.    A  tour  of  four  great  rivers;  the  Hudson, 
Mohawk,  Susquehanna  and  Delaware  in  1769;  being 
the  journal  of  Richard  Smith.    Scribner.  ^ 
"Mr.   Smith  saw  these  valleys,  when  the  Indians  still  traversed  the 
trails  that  had  been  worn  deep  by  the  feet  of  their  forefathers,  and  when 
the  bark  canoe  was  still  an  indispensable  adjunct  of  frontier  trade." 

—  Historical  introduction. 

Williams,  Sherman.  The  Iroquois  confederacy.  (In  his 
Stories  from  early  New  York  history,  p.  90-128.  Scrib- 
ner.) 

23 


Sir  William  Johnson 

"He  might  indeed  be  called  the  tribune  of  the  Five  Nations;  whose 
claims  he  asserted,  whose  rights  he  protected,  and  over  whose  minds  he 
possessed  a  greater  sway  than  any  other  individual  had  ever  attained." 

—  Mrs.  Grant. 

Chambers,  R.  W.    Cardigan.  Harper. 

A  romance  of  Johnson  Hall  during  the  Indiar  wars  and  the  first 
years  of  the  Revolution.     Cardigan  was  Sir  William's  nephew. 

Diefendorf,  M.  R.    In  the  days  of  Sir  William.    (In  her  His- 
toric Mohawk,  p.  68-153.  Putnam.) 

Harland,  Marion,  pseud.    Johnson  Hall.     (In  her  Colonial 
homesteads,  v.  2,  p.  1-64.  Putnam.) 

Parkman,  Francis.    The  conspiracy  of  Pontiac.   v.  1,  p.  69-99. 
Little. 

Reid,  W.  M.    The  story  of  old  Fort  Johnson.  Putnam. 

The  interest  and  pleasure  of  Chambers*  story  of  Cardigan  will  be 
greatly  increased  after  having  read  this  account  of  "old  Fort  Johnson," 
and  the  part  it  played  in  the  exciting  early  life  in  "The  Valley." 

The  book  also  contains  portraits  and  pictures  of  the  country  and  of 
the  historic  old  house. 

*  Todd,  C.  B.    Johnson  Hall.    (In  his  In  olde  New  York,  p. 
129-139.    The  Grafton  Press.) 


The  Colonial  Sea-port 
Cooper,  J.  F.    The  Water-Witch.  Putnam. 

A  story  of  New  York  harbor  in  Lord  Cornbury's  time.  The  Water- 
Witch  was  a  SxHUggling  brigantine. 

Roosevelt,  Theodore.    The  growth  of  the  colonial  seaport. 
(In  his  New  York,  p.  73-88.  Longmans.) 


Privateers  and  Pirates.   Captain  Kidd 

"The  privateer ..  .was  a  private  citizen,  owner  of  a  swift  merchant- 
vessel,  whom  his  government  in  time  of  war  commissioned  to  proceed 
against  the  enemy  and  kill,  burn,  and  capture  wherever  he  might  meet  him.  . . 
If,  however,  a  privateer  turned  his  guns  upon  peaceful  nations  not  named 
in  his  commission,  he  became  a  pirate."  —  Charles  Burr  Tcdd. 

24 


Frothingham,  J.  P.  The  pirate  paramount;  and,  A  pirate 
in  the  making.  (In  her  Sea-wolves  of  seven  shores, 
p.  275-300.  Scribner.) 

Stories  of  Captain  Kidd. 

"I  steer'd  from  sound  to  sound, 
And  many  ships  I  found, 
And  most  of  them  I  burn'd, 
As  I  sailed. 
*        *  * 

I'd  ninety  bars  of  gold, 
And  dollars  manifold, 
With  riches  uncontrolTd, 
As  I  sailed." 

Irving,  Washington.  Wolfert  Webber.  (In  Tales  from  Wash- 
ington Irving's  Traveller,  p.  168-196.  Lippincott.) 

"His  formidable  hero  is  an  old  pirate  with  a  sea  chest,  afortime  one 
of  Kidd's  rogues,  who  appears  at  the  Dutch  tavern  near  Corlear's  Hook, 
and  there  awaits  tidings  of  his  shipmates  and  the  hidden  treasure." 

—  Ralph  D.  Paine. 

*  Janvier,  T.  A.  New  York  colonial  privateers.  Harper's 
monthly  magazine,  v.  90,  p.  333-343.  1895. 

  The  sea-robbers   of  New  York.     Harper's  monthly- 
magazine.   V.  89,  p.  813-827.  1894. 

Paine,  R.  D.   The  book  of  buried  treasure;  p.  26-128.  Sturgis. 

Captain  Kidd  in  fact  and  fiction. 
Captain  Kidd,  his  treasure. 
Captain  Kidd,  his  trial  and  death. 

Pyle,  Howard.  Tom  Chist  and  the  treasure-box;  an  old-time 
story  of  the  days  of  Captain  Kidd.  (In  his  Stolen 
Treasure,  p.  45-95.  Harper.) 

Wilson,  R.  R.  Privateer  and  pirate.  (In  his  New  York:  old 
&  new,  p.  128-148.  Lippincott.) 


The  Free  City 

Bank  of  the  Manhattan  Company.   A  progressive  commercial 
bank.    The  Irving  Press. 

A  pamphlet  giving  a  short  history  of  banking  in  New  York. 

Chemical  National  Bank.   History  of  the  Chemical  Bank,  1823- 
1913.    Country  Life  Press. 
Illustrated  from  old  prints  and  photographs. 

25 


Roosevelt,  Theodore.  The  growth  of  the  commercial  and 
democratic  city.  (In  his  New  York,  p.  175-200.  Long- 
mans.) 

Todd,  C.  B.  The  story  of  the  city  of  New  York,  p.  391-430. 
Putnam. 

Chapters  on  A  typical  New  York  merchant,  Commercial  development, 
Ships  and  sailors. 


War  of  1812 

Barr,  A.  E.  H.    The  belle  of  Bowling  Green.  Dodd. 

A  story  of  New  York  during  the  war  of  1812. 

Cooper,  J.  F.    Miles  Wallingford.  Putnam. 

A  story  showing  some  of  ihe  causes  leading  up  to  the  war  of  1812. 
The  impressment  of  British  seamen,  from  on  board  of  American  merchant 
vessels. 

Wilson,  R.  R.    The  second  war  with  England.    (In  his  New 
York:  old  and  new,  v.  1,  p.  303-324.  Lippincott.) 


Old  Merchants  of  New  York 

*  Scoville,  J.  A.     The  old  merchants  of  New  York  city. 

Carleton. 

*  Stoddard,  W.  O.    Alexander  Turney  Stewart.    (In  his  Men 

of  business,  p.  182-196.  Scribner.) 


John  Jacob  Astor.  1763-1848 

Grinnell,  G.  B.    An  early  fur  trader.    (In  his  Beyond  the  old 
frontier,  p.  1-38.  Scribner.) 

*  Stoddard,  W.  O.    John  Jacob  Astor.    (In  his  Men  of  busi- 
ness, p.  9-30.  Scribner.) 


Peter  Cooper.  1791-1883 

Autobiography  of  Peter  Cooper.    (In  Old  South  leaflets,  v.  6, 
no.  147.    Directors  of  the  Old  South  work.) 

Raymond,  R.  W.    Peter  Cooper.  Houghton. 


26 


Samuel  Morse  and  the  Telegraph.  1791-1872 

"The  story  of  the  long-baffled  efforts  and  final  success  of  Morse  is 
as  remarkable  as  any  in  the  annals  of  discovery."  —  Mr.^.  Lamb. 

Bolton,  S.  K.   Samuel  Finley  Breese  Morse.    (In  her  Famous 
men  of  science,  p.  202-245.  Crowell.) 

Holland,  R.  S.    Morse  and  the  telegraph,  1791-1872.    (In  his 
Historic  inventions,  p.  168-188.  Jacobs.) 

lies,  George.    Samuel  F.  B.  Morse.    (In  his  Leading  Ameri- 
can inventors,  p.  119-175.  Holt.) 


Transportation 

"The  secret,  then,  of  New  York's  proud  greatness,  why  she  is  and 
always  will  be  the  Imperial  City  of  North  America... is  found  in  the 
word  transportation."  —  Lrnest  Ingersoll. 


Robert  Fulton.  1765-1815 

"He  reached  Albany  in  safety  and  in  triumph,  having  accomplished  the 
distance  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  at  the  average  rate  of  five  miles 
per  hour...  This  was  the  first  voyage  of  any  considerable  length  ever 
made  by  a  steam  vessel  in  any  quarter  of  the  world."       —  Mrs.  Lamb. 

*  Buckman,  D.  L.    Old  steamboat  days  on  the  Hudson.  The 
Grafton  Press. 

The  invention  of  the  steamboat.    (In  Old  South  leaflets,  v.  5, 
no.  108!    Directors  of  the  Old  South  w^ork.) 

Knox,  T.  W.   The  life  of  Robert  Fulton.  Putnam. 

Miller,  P.  F.    The  story  of  Robert  Fulton.    The  Knicker- 
bocker Press. 

Sutcliffe,  A.  C.   Robert  Fulton  and  the  "Clermont."  Century. 


The  Erie  Canal 

"The  Erie  Canal  was  completed  on  the  25th  of  October,  1825.... \t 
ten  o'clock  precisely  the  waters  of  Lake  Erie  were  admitted  into  the  canal, 
and  the  news  was  transmitted  to  New  York  City  in  an  hour  and  thirty 
minutes,  by  the  discharge  of  cannon  posted  along  the  route  at  intervals... 
The  canal-boat  Seneca  Chief  led  off  in  fine  style,  drawn  by  four  grey 
horses,  fancifully  caparisoned."  —  Mrs.  Lamb. 

Hulbert,  A.  B.    The  great  American  canals,  v.  2.    The  Erie 
Canal.    Clark.    (Historic  highways  of  America,   v.  14.) 


Morris,  Charles.  De  Witt  Clinton,  the  Father  of  the  Erie 
Canal.  (In  his  Heroes  of  progress  in  America,  p.  177- 
183.  Lippincott.) 

Roberts,  E.  H.  Waterways  and  their  development.  (In  his 
New  York,  v.  2,  p.  524-549.  Houghton.) 

Trowbridge,  J.  T.    Jack  Hazard  and  his  fortunes.  Winston. 

The  story  of  a  canal-boy  on  the  Erie  tow-path. 


Railroads 

On  October  1,  1851,  the  Hudson  River  Railroad  was  opened  between 
New  York  and  Albany.  The  first  passenger  station  was  at  Chambers  Street 
and  College  Place. 

Carter,  C.  F.    When  railroads  were  new.  Holt. 

Jenkins,  Stephen.    Later  means  of  communication.    (In  his 
Story  of  the  Bronx,  p.  228-250.  Putnam.) 

*  Stoddard,  W.  O.   Cornelius  Vanderbilt.   (In  his  Men  of  busi- 
ness, p.  31-52.  Scribner.) 


The  Elevated  Railroad 

*  Barnard,  Charles.    The  railroad  in  the  air.    St.  Nicholas, 
V.  6,  p.  800-808,  1879. 

How  the  elevixted  railroad  was  built.    Well  illustrated. 


Brooklyn  Bridge  and  Other  Bridges 

Brooklyn  Bridge  was  formally  opened  on  May  24,  1883 

*  Barnard,  Charles.    The  Brooklyn  bridge.    St.  Nicholas,  v. 

10,  pt.  2,  p.  688-700,  1883. 

*  The  city's  giant  bridges.    Scientific  American,  v.  99,  p.  397- 

400,  19C8. 

Brooklyn  Bridge,  Williamsburg  Bridge,  Manhattan  Bridge  and  Queens- 
borough  Bridge,  illustrated. 

Jenkins,  vStephen.    Ferries  and  bridges.    (In  his  Story  of  the 
Bronx,  p.  177-208.  Putnam.) 

28 


Tunnels 


*  Bniere,  R.  W.    The  gates  of  New  York.    The  Outlook,  v. 

85,  p.  927-942,  1907. 

Tunnel  entrances  to  New  York. 

*  Reeve,  A.  B.   The  romance  of  tunnel  building;  the  sixteen  . .  . 

tunnels  built  and  building  under  the  rivers  around  New 
York  City.,  .the  men  on  the  job,  the  dangers  they  face, 
and  how  they  are  doing  the  work.  The  World's  Work, 
V.  13,  p.  8338-8351,  1906. 


The  Old  Subways 

*  Cunniff,  M.  G,   The  New  York  subway.   The  World's  Work, 

V.  8,  p.  5346-5364,  1904. 

*  McDonald,  J.  B.    The  tunnel  through  New  York;  the  inter- 

esting engineering  feat  of  constructing  an  underground 
railway  more  than  fourteen  miles  long  beneath  the 
streets  of  the  metropolis  without  stopping  surface  traf- 
fic.   Munsey's  magazine,  v.  25.  p.  226-234,  1901. 

An  account  of  the  old  subway  by  the  contractor  who  built  it;  illustrated. 

*  Parsons,  W.  B.    Rapid  transit  in  New  York.  Scribner's 

magazine,  v.  27,  p.  545-555,  1900. 

*  Ruhl,  Arthur".    Building  New  York's  subway.    The  Century 

magazine,  v.  42,  (new  series),    p.  894-907,  1902. 


The  New  Subways 

*  Building  a  four-track  tunnel  beneath  Broadway.  Scientific 

American,  v.  108,  p.  154,  1913. 

*  The  Lexington  Avenue  subway  four-track  tunnel  under  the 

Harlem  River.    Scientific  American,  v.  108,  p.  286,  1913. 

*  Progress  of  the  new  Harlem  River  tunnel.    Scientific  Ameri- 

can, V.  109,  p.  244-245,  1913. 

Public  Service  Commission.    First  District.    New  subways 
for  New  York.   The  dual  system  of  rapid  transit.  Pub- 
lic Service  Commission. 
A  pamphlet  describing  the  new  subways.    Illustrated  from  photographs. 

29 


The  Barge  Canal 

*  Hungerford,  Edward.    New  York's  own  Panama.  Munsey's 

magazine,  v.  50,  p.  228-241,  1913. 

New  York  State.  State  Engineer.  The  barge  canal  system 
being  constructed  by  the  State  of  New  York.  J.  B. 
Lyon. 

A  pamphlet  containing  excellent  illustrations  from  photographs,  and 
maps.    Issued  by  the  State  Engineer,  November  1,  1913. 

*  Whitford,  N.  E.    New  York  State  barge  canal;  completing 

one  of  the  world's  greatest  engineering  works.  Scien- 
tific American,  v.  108,  p.  2>77-Z79,  1913. 


THE  MODERN  CITY 

"City  of  the  world!  (for  all  races  are  here, 
All  the  lands  of  th^^  earth  make  contributions  here.)" 

—  Walt  Whitman. 

*  Adams,  J.  H.    A  trip  through  the  New  York  assay  office. 

St.  Nicholas,  v.  30,  pt.  2,  p.  1081-1088,  1903. 

*  A  trip  through  the  New  York  Navy  Yard.   St.  Nicholas, 

V.  30,  pt.  2,  p.  47-55,  1903. 

Baker,  A.  G.  and  A.  H.  Ware.  Municipal  government  of  the 
city  of  New  York.  Ginn. 

*  Barnard,  Charles.    The  Boy's  Club.    St.  Nicholas,  v.  12, 

pt.  1,  p.  439-444,  1885. 

How  the  club  in  Tenth  Street  was  founded. 

Bunner,  H.  C.  The  red  box  at  Vesey  Street.  (In  his  Poems, 
p.  237-239.  Scribner.) 

The  red  box  at  Vesey  Street  was  for  newspapers,  to  be  sent  to  the 
city  hospitals. 

City  History  Club  of  New  York.  Historical  guide  to  the  city 
of  New  York;  compiled  by  Frank  Bergen  Kelley. 
Stokes. 

*  Ford,  1.  N.    The  fresh-air  fund.    St.  Nicholas,  v.  10,  pt.  2, 

p.  616-626,  1883. 

Ford,  J.  L.  The  third  alarm;  a  story  of  the  New  York  fire 
department.  Brentano. 

30 


Ford,  P.  L.    The  honoral^le  Peter  Stirling.  Holt. 

A  story  of  modern  political  life. 

Henry,  O.    The  four  million.  Doublediiy. 

Stories  of  "The  Four  Million"  —  New  York's  passing  throng  and 
how  they  meet  with  the  comedies  and  tragedies  which  the  diversified  life 
of  the  city  brings  to  them. 

Hill,  C.  T.    Fighting  a  fire.  Century. 

Some  experience  of  the  New  York  fire  department  in  fighting  fires, 
and  in  saving  life  and  property. 

Matthews,  Brander.    Tom  Paulding;  a  story  of  a  search  for 
buried  treasure  in  the  streets  of  New  York.  Century. 

Morgan,  James.    Theodore  Roosevelt;  the  boy  and  the  man. 
Macmillan. 

*  Munroe,  Kirk.    The  making  of  a  great  newspaper.    I.  Day 

work.  II.  Night  work.  Harper's  Young  People,  v.  15, 
p.  50-54,  65-68,  1893. 

A  detailed  account  of  the  many  and  varied  tasks  of  reporters,  editors 
and  publishers  of  such  papers  as  the  New  York  Times,  Tribune,  World 
and  Sun. 

Riis,  J.  A.    The  making  of  an  American.  Macmillan. 
The  author's  own  life. 

Singleton,  Esther.    The  children's  city.  Sturgis. 

*Stedman,  E.  C.    New  York.    St.  Nicholas,  v.  20,  pt.  1,  p. 
403-419,  1893. 

A  description  of  New  York  in  1893. 

Straubenmiiller,  Gustave.    A  home  geography  of  New  York 
City.  Ginn. 

*  Tolman,  W.  H.  and  Charles  Hemstreet.    The  better  New 

York.    American  Institute  of  Social  Service. 

A  guide  book  describing  the  philanthropic  institutions  of  the  city. 
Settlement  houses,  hospitals,  schools,  etc.  It  contains  much  interesting 
information  not  found  elsewhere. 

Van  Dyke,  J.  C.    The  new  New  York;  illustrated  by  Joseph 
Pennell.  Macmillan. 

"The  mass  of  it  makes  you  realize  the  energy  back  of  it.  excites  a 
wonder  as  to  its  fashioning,  overawes  you  with  its  possibilities." 

*  Waring,  G.  E.    Street-cleaning.  Doubleday. 

Contains  a  chapter  on  The  juvenile  street-cleaning  leagues;  by  David 
Willard. 

*  Williams,  J.  L.    The  water-front  of  New  York.  Scril^ner's 

magazine,  v.  26;  p.  385-399,  1899. 

Excellent  illustrations. 

31 


The  Catskill  Aqueduct 

Creating  a  subterranean  river  ninety  miles  in  length;  how 
Catskill  Water  is  being  brought  to  New  York.  Scien- 
tific American,  v.  108,  p.  198-200,  1913. 

Illustrated. 

Flinn,  A.  D.    The  world's  greatest  aqueduct;  water  from 

the  Catskill  mountains  to  the  city  of  New  York,  The 

Century  magazine,  v.  56,  (new  series)  p.  707-721,  1909. 

An  excellent  article  well  illustrated. 

Springer,  J.  F.  Providing  for  ten  million.  Cassier's  En- 
gineering Monthly,  v.  44,  p.  55-62,  1913. 

Supplying  a  metropolis  with  mountain  water.  Scientific 
American,  v.  108,  p.  201,  202,  208,  210,  1913. 

Tomlin,  R.  K.  The  deepest  siphon  tunnel  in  the  world. 
Scribner's  magazine,  v.  51,  p.  551-560,  1912. 

The  tunnel  under  the  Hudson  at  Storm  King. 


Parks 

The  site  of  Central  Park  was  originally  occupied  by  "squatters"  who 
lived  in  rude  shanties  and  fed  thousands  of  domestic  animals  on  city  refuse, 
which  they  carted  there  for  the  purpose.  In  1856  this  land  was  chosen 
for  a  large  central  park,  because  of  the  lack  of  recreation  grounds  in  the 
city,  and  work  was  begun  in  the  following  year. 

*  Barnard,  Charles.   The  true  story  of  the  obelisk.   St.  Nicho- 

las, V.  8,  pt.  1,  p.  310-319,  1881. 

*          Young  folks'  fun  in  Central  Park.    St.  Nicholas,  v.  4, 

p.  705-712,  1877. 

Bronx  Parkway  Commission.    Report,  June  30,  1914. 

Fully  illustrated. 

*  Homaday,  W.  T.    The  New  York  Zoological  Park.  Cen- 

tury magazine,  v.  39,  (new  series),  p.  85-102,  1900. 

  Popular  official  guide  to  the  New  York  Zoological  Park. 

11th  ed.    New  York  Zoological  Society. 

*  Tolman,  W.  H.  and  Charles  Hemstreet.    The  better  New 

York,  p.  154-161.    American  Institute  of  Social  Service. 
Some  account  of  the  development  of  parks  in  New  York  with  an  ex- 
cellent description  of  Central  Park. 

32 


The  Statue  of  Liberty 


The  statue  of  Liberty  was  erected  in  1885.  It  was  presented  to  the 
people  of  the  United  States  by  the  people  of  France  to  commemorate  the 
hundredth  anniversary  of  American  independence. 

"We  dedicate  this  statue  to  the  friendship  of  nations  and  the  peace 
of  the  world;  the  spirit  of  Liberty  embraces  all  races  in  common  brother- 
hood, it  voices  in  all  languages  the  same  needs  and  aspirations." 

—  From  a  speech  made  at  the  Dedication. 

*  Barnard,  Charles.    The  Bartholdi  statue,  St.  Nicholas,  v.  11, 
pt.  2,  p.  725-732,  1884. 

How  the  statue  was  put  in  place. 

Singleton,  Esther.    Liberty  enlightening  the  world.    (In  her 
Historic  buildings  of  America,  p.  338-341.  Dodd.) 

Stedman,  E.  C.    Liberty  enlightening  the  world.    (In  The 
Wayfarer  in  New  York,  p.  56-58.  Macmillan.) 
Poem. 

Whittier,  J.  G.    The  Bartholdi  statue.     (In  his  Complete 
poetical  works,  p.  240.  Houghton.) 


Races  of  People  in  New  York 

*  Gerard,  J.  W.    Impress  of  nationalities  on  New  York  City. 
Magazine  of  American  history,  v.  23,  p.  40-59,  1890. 

Steiner,  E.  A.    The  immigrant  tide;  its  ebb  and  flow.  Revell. 


Some  Historic  Places  in  the  Modern  City 
The  Battery 

When  the  English  took  possession  of  the  city,  it  was  decided  to  build 
a  Battery  to  protect  the  newly  acquired  possession.  This  was  erected 
somewhat  north  of  the  present  Battery  which  at  that  time  was  under  water. 
After  the  Revolution  it  was  demolished  along  with  the  old  Fort.  Castle 
Clinton  (now  the  Aquarium)  was  built  as  one  of  the  defenses  for  the 
War  of  1812,  on  what  was  then  an  island  connected  by  a  bridge  with 
Manhattan.  After  the  war  it  became  the  famous  Castle  Garden  and  was 
used  as  a  place  for  public  amusements  and  celebrations.  Lafayette  and 
Kossuth  were  received  here,  and  Jenny  Lind's  first  concert  in  America 
was  held  here.  Later  the  building  became  a  receiving  station  for  immi- 
grants, and  so  remained  until  its  conversion  into  an  Aquarium  in  1896. 

*  Bristol,  C.  L.    The  Castle  Garden  Aquarium.    St.  Nicholas, 
V.  29,  pt.  2,  p.  680-684,  1902. 

33 


Hemstreet,  Charles.    The  Battery  and  the  Fort.     (In  his 
When  old  New  York  was  young,  p.  179-190.  Scribner.) 

Janvier,  T.  A.    The  Battery.    (In  his  In  old  New  York,  p. 
227-240.  Harper.) 

Singleton,  Esther.    Castle  Garden.    (In  her  Historic  buildings 
of  America,  p.  144-150.  Dodd.) 

Wilson,  R.  R.    New  York;  old  &  new,  v.  2.   p.  15-30.  Lippin- 
cott. 


Bowling  Green 

In  old  Dutch  times  the  annual  fairs  were  held  on  Bowling  Green,  one 
for  cattle  and  the  other  for  hogs,  and  it  was  also  used  as  a  parade-ground 
for  the  soldiers.  Early  in  the  eighteenth  century  it  was  leased  as  a  bowling 
green  at  an  annual  rental  of  one  pepper-corn.  During  the  Revolution,  the 
statue  of  George  III,  which  had  been  set  up  here,  as  a  token  of  popular  grati- 
tude for  the  repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act,  was  pulled  from  its  pedestal  by  the 
Sons  of  Liberty  and  melted  into  bullets. 

City  History  Club  of  New  York.  Bowling  Green.  (In  His- 
torical guide  to  the  city  of  New  York;  compiled  by 
Frank  Bergen  Kelley,  p.  15-22.  Stokes.) 

Hemstreet,  Charles.  The  autobiography  of  Bowling  d'een. 
(In  his  When  old  New  York  was  young,  p.  1-15. 
Scribner.) 

Trask,  Spencer.  Bowling  Green.  (In  Goodwin,  M.  W.  and 
others,  Historic  New  York,  second  series,  p.  163-208. 
Putnam.) 

Wilson,  R.  R.  New  York:  old  &  new,  v.  2,  p.  12-15.  Lippin- 
cott. 


Fraunces  Tavern 

Fraunces  Tavern  was  built  by  the  De  Lancey  family  as  a  residence  early 
in  the  eighteenth  century.  They  occupied  it  until  1762  when  it  was  bought 
by  Samuel  Fraunces,  called  "Black  Sam,"  who  opened  it  as  a  tavern  under 
the  sign  of  Queen  Charlotte;  it  became  one  of  the  most  popular  hostelries 
in  the  townf  Here  on  December  4,  1783  Washington  took  farewell  of 
his  generals  in  the  famous  Long  Room. 

The  old  Tavt-n  still  stands  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Broad  and  Pearl 
Streets. 

City  History  Club  of  New  York.  Fraunces  Tavern.  (In 
Historical  guide  to  the  city  of  New  York;  compiled 
by  Frank  Bergen  Kelley  p.  39-47.  Stokes.) 


34 


Davis,  W.  J.    Fraunces  Tavern.    (In  Singleton,  Esther.  His- 
toric buildings  of  America,  p.  34-42.  Dodd.) 

Goodwin,  M.  W.  and  others.    Historic  New  York;  second 
series,  p.  269-274.  Putnam. 


Wall  Street 

"When  war  broke  out  between  England  and  Holland  in  1653,  Gover- 
nor Peter  Stuyvesant  built  the  wall  along  the  line  of  the  present  street, 
from  river  to  river.  His  object  was  to  form  a  barrier  that  should  enclose 
the  city... After  the  wall  was  removed  in  1699,  the  street  came  to  be  a 
chief  business  thoroughfare."  — Charles  Hemstreet. 

Hill,  F.  T.  The  story  of  a  street;  a  narrative  history  of  Wall 
Street  from  1644  to  1908.  Harper. 

Innes,  J.  H.  New  Amsterdam  and  its  people,  p.  272-278. 
Scribner. 

Villard,  O.  G.  The  early  history  of  Wall  Street,  1653-1789. 
(In  Goodwin,  M.  W.  and  others.  Historic  New  York; 
first  series,  p.  75-118.  Putnam.) 

Wilson,  R.  R.  Wall  Street  in  early  days.  (In  his  New  York: 
old  &  new,  v.  2,  p.  80-101.  Lippincott.) 


The  Bowery 

The  Bowery  was  called  by  the  Dutch  Bouwerie  Lane.  In  those  days 
it  was  only  a  narrow  lane  running  between  the  bouweries,  or  farms,  and 
connecting  them  with  the  little  town  clustered  about  Fort  Amsterdam. 
The  most  famous  of  these  farms  was  the  Great  Bouwerie,  which  was  the 
home  of  Peter  Stuyvesarit. 

City  History  Club  of  New  York.  Bowery  Village;  and  The 
Bow^ery,  Chatham  Square,  and  Collect  Pond.  (In 
Historical  guide  to  the  city  of  New  York;  compiled  by 
Frank  Bergen  Kelley,  p.  88-98.  Stokes.) 

Hemstreet,  Charles.  Bouwerie  Village  and  its  graveyard.  (In 
his  When  old  New  York  was  young,  p.  167-177.  Scrib- 
ner.) 

Hewitt,  E.  R.  and  M.  A.  Hewitt.  The  Bowery.  (In  Good- 
win, M.  W.  and  others.  Historic  New  York,  first 
series,  p.  357-394.  Putnam.) 

Wilson,  R.  R.  Bowery  Lane.  (In  his  New  York:  old  &  new, 
V.  2,  p.  154-176.  Lippincott.) 

35 


Greenwich  Village 

"Very  proper  and  elegant  people  were  all  these,  and  their  seats  being 
at  a  convenient  distance  from  the  city,  their  elegant  friends  living  in 
New  York  found  pleasure  in  making  Greenwich  an  objective  point  when 
taking  the  air  of  fine  afternoons."  —  Thomas  A.  Janvier. 

Bisland,  Elizabeth.  Old  Greenwich.  (In  Goodwin,  M.  W. 
and  others,  Historic  New  York,  first  series,  p.  263-291. 
Putnam.) 

Bunner,  H.  C.    The  story  of  a  New  York  house.  Scribner. 

**  'Hullo,  Dolph!*  he  hailed  his  friend.  'What's  this  I  heard  about  you 
building  a  preposterous  tom-fool  of  a  town-house  out  by  Greenwich?  Why 
don't  you  hire  thn^  house  that  Burr  had,  near  Lispenard's  cow-pasture,  and 
be  done  with  it?'  " 

A  story  of  three  generations. 

Hemstreet,  Charles.  Greenwich  and  the  **Mouse-trap.'*  (In 
his  When  old  New  York  was  young,  p.  89-98.  Scribner.) 

Janvier,  T.  A.  Greenwich  Village.  (In  his  In  old  New  York, 
p.  84-151.  Harper.) 


Chelsea 

"Captain  Thomas  Clarke,  a  veteran  officer  of  the  Provincial  '^rvice 
who  had  done  some  very  pretty  fighting  in  the  old  French  war,  gave  the 
name  of  Chelsea  to  his  country-seat  —  a  modest  estate  on  the  shores  of  the 
Hudson,  between  two  and  three  miles  north  of  the  town  of  New  York." 

—  fhomas  A.  Janvier. 

Captain  Clarke's  grandson  was  Clement  C.  Moore,  who,  while  living 
at  Chelsea,  wrote  "A  visit  from  St.  Nicholas." 

City  History  Club  of  New  York.  Love  Lane  and  Chelsea 
Village.  (In  Historical  guide  to  the  city  of  New 
York;  compiled  by  Frank  Bergen  Kelley,  p.  115-116. 
Stokes.) 

Hemstreet,  Charles.  Chelsea  Village.  (In  his  When  old 
New  York  was  young,  p.  331-345.  Scribner.) 

Janvier,  T.  A.  Down  Love  Lane.  (In  his  In  old  New  York, 
p.  152-191.  Harper.) 


Broadway 

"Broadway  in  the  days  when  it  was  the  Heere  Straat  of  New  Amster- 
dam was  also  the  only  highway  that  traversed  the  island  from  end  to  end." 
It  was  "flanked  in  its  lower  reaches  with  orchards  and  gardens  and  com- 
fortable homes."  Rufus  Rockwell  Wilson. 

36 


Jenkins,  Stephen.  The  greatest  street  in  the  world;  the  story 
of  Broadway,  old  and  new,  from  the  Bowling  Green  to 
Albany.  Putnam. 

Wilson,  R.  R.  Along  lower  Broadway;  and,  Broadway  above 
the  Common.  (In  his  New  York,  old  &  new,  v.  2, 
p.  55-79,  129-153.  Lippincott.) 


The  Jumel  Mansion 

"Within  its  walls  Washington  established  his  headquarters  while  the 
mastery  of  the  island  was  in  dispute  with  the  British,  and.  .  .thither  Wash- 
ington came  again  in  1790  with  all  his  Cabinet,  nn  his  return  from  a 
visit  to  the  battlefield  of  Fort  Washington."  —  L  liarles  Burr  Todd. 

Harland,  Marion,  pseud.  The  Jumel  mansion.  (In  her  Colon- 
ial homesteads,  v.  1,  p.  273-326.  Putnam.) 

Singleton,  Esther.  The  Morris-Jumel  house.  (In  her  His- 
toric buildings  of  America,  p.  309-312.  Dodd.) 

Smith,  Mrs.  A.  A.  F.  Historical  sketch  of  Washington's  head- 
quarters; prepared  under  the  auspices  of  the  Washing- 
ton Headquarters  Association,  New  York.  Press  of 
George  Harjes  Co. 

A  pamphlet  obtainable  at  the  Jumel  Mansion;  illustrated. 

*  Smith,  W.  C.     The  Roger  Morris  house;  Washington's 

headquarters  on  Harlem  heights.  Magazine  of  Ameri- 
can history,  v.  6,  p.  89-104,  1881. 

*  Todd,  C.  B.    The  old  Jumel  mansion.    (In  his  In  old  New 

York,  p.  77-85.    The  Grafton  Press.) 


The  Bronx 

The  Bronx  is  named  after  the  first  white  settler,  Jonas  Bronck,  who 
purchased  land  in  Westchester  on  the  Harlem  river  about  1639.  During 
the  Revolution  a  large  part  of  what  is  now  the  Borough  of  the  Bronx, 
lay  between  the  two  armies;  being  common  pr'  perty  to  both  Americans 
and  English,  it  was  called  the  "Neutral  Grouna,"  although  it  was  the  scene 
of  continual  skirmish  fighting. 

The  Bronx  and  beyond.     (In  The  wayfarer  in  New  York, 
p.  229-244.  Macmillan.) 

Cooper,  J.  F.    Satanstoe.  Putnam. 

A  story  of  the  French  and  Indian  war.  Satanstoe  was  the  name  of 
an  ol  1  estate  in  Westchester  in  the  vicinity  of  Hell  Gate. 

  The  spy;  a  tale  of  the  Neutral  Ground.  Putnam. 


37 


Irving,  Washington.     Wolfert's  Roost.     (In  his  Wolfert's 
Roost  and  other  papers,  p.  11-3j.  Putnam.) 
"The  Roost  stood  in  the  very  heart  of  what  at  that  time  was  called 
the  debatable  ground,  lying  between  the  British  and  American  lines." 

Jenkins,  Stephen.    A  princess  and  another.  Huebsch. 

A  story  of  Westchester  in  Revolutionary  times.  The  De  Lancey 
family,  Colonel  Philipse  of  Philipse  manor  and  the  Morrises  of  Morrisania 
are  described,  and  also  the  French  Huguenots.  The  hsro  is  French,  although 
fighting  with  the  English,  and  the  plot  hinges  on  the  story  of  his  birth 
about  which  there  is  a  mystery. 

  The  story  of  the  Bronx;  from  the  purchase  made  by  the 

Dutch  from  the  Indians  in  1639  to  the  present  day. 
Putnam. 

Fryer,  Charles.  The  ''Neutral  Ground. (In  Goodwin,  M.  W. 
and  others.  Historic  New  York,  second  series,  p.  407- 
443.  Putnam.) 

Smith,  F.  H.   A  day  at  Laguerre's.    (In  his  Day  at  Laguerre's 
and  other  days.  Houghton.) 
A  sketch  of  "the  most  delightful  of  French  inns,  in  the  quaintest  of 
French  settlements." 


The  Van  Cortlandt  Manor-House. 

In  1646  Adrian  Van  der  Donck  bought  land  from  the  Indians,  ivrhich 
he  called  Colen  Donck  and  built  his  farm  house  in  what  is  now  Van  Cort- 
landt Park.    He  was  the  only  patroon  in  Westchester. 

In  1699  Jacobus  Van  Cortlandt  purchased  a  part  of  this  land  and  it 
became  known  as  the  Van  Cortlandt  Manor;  the  present  house  was  built 
by  his  son  in  1748.  It  was  "a  charming  country  house,  filled  with  joy 
and  hospitality,  sunshine  and  laughter  all  about  it." 

During  the  Revolution  the  house  was  the  headquarters  of  the  Hessian 
Jaegers.  Washington,  Rochambeau  and  other  distinguished  people  were 
entertained  there  at  different  times. 

It  is  now  a  museum  in  the  care  of  the  Colonial  Dames. 

Colonial  Dames  of  New  York.    The  story  of  Van  Cortlandt 
Park.    The  Irving  Press. 
An  excellent  pamphlet  obtainable  at  the  Van  Cortlandt  House  Museum, 

*  Lamb,  Mrs.  M.  J.    Van  Cortlandt  manor-house.  Magazine 
of  American  history,  v.  15,  p.  217-236,  1886. 


Brooklyn 

"One  of  the  first  acts  of  the  West  India  Cornpany  was  to  buv  of  the 
Indians  the  whole  western  end  of  Long  Island.  ..  By  1646  nearly  tne  whole 
water  front  had  been  cleared  and  put  under  cultivation,  and  there  were 
small  villages  at  the  Wallabout,  the  ferry,  and  Gowanus,'* 

—  Charles  Burr  Todd. 


38 


Putnam,  Harrington.  Breuckelen.  (In  Goodwin,  M.  W.  and 
others.  Historic  New  York,  second  series,  p.  385-405. 
Putnam.) 

Vanderbilt,  G.  F.  The  social  history  of  Flatbush,  and  the 
manners  and  customs  of  the  Dutch  settlers  in  Kings 
county.  Loeser. 

*  Wilson,  R.  R.    Historic  Long  Island.    The  Berkeley  Press. 


Staten  Island 

Named  "Staaten  Eylandt,"  Island  of  the  States,  by  Henry  Hudson 
as  a  memorial  to  the  States  General  of  the  Netherlands.  The  Island  was 
settled  by  the  Dutch.  The  first  patroon  was  Michael  Pauw,  who  called  his 
grant  "Pavonia." 

City  History  Club  of  New  York.  Borough  of  Richmond.  (In 
Historical  guide  to  the  City  of  New  York;  compiled  by 
Frank  Bergen  Kelley,  p.  319-367.  Stokes.) 

*  Clute,  J.  J.  Annals  of  Staten  Island.  Press  of  Charles 
Vogt. 

Smith,  F.  H.    Tom  Grogan.  Houghton. 

The  story  of  how  Tom  Grogan  kept  on  with  her  husband's  business 
of  stevedore,  after  his  death,  and  how  she  made  good  against  the  other  con- 
tractors who  tried  to  make  trouble  for  her  because  she  would  not  join' 
the  union. 


39 


Printed  at  The  New  York  Public  Library 


RICH  NEW  YORKERS  OF  1844. 

(Estimated  by  Moses  Y.  Beach,  owner  of  the  Sun:  published  by  him.  Jan..  1845.) 
125.000,000— John  Jacob  Astor.    „      ^    _       _  Y"'.  ^Y.^^'-    Maltby    Gelston;    John  Gihon. 


$10,000,000 — Estate  of  Stephen  Van  Rensellaer; 
Stephen  WTiitney. 

$5,000.000 — William  B.  Astor. 
$4,000,000 — Peter  G.  Stuyvesant. 
$3,000,000 — James  Leno-K. 

$1,500,000 — Estate  of  Isaac  Bronson;  Peter  Har- 
mony: Jacob  Loriliard's  widow;  Gouvemeur  Morris; 
Thomas  C.  Pearsall's  widow. 

$1,200,000 — Cornelius  Vanderbilt. 

$1,000.000 — Henry  Brevoort.  Jr.:  William  B 
Crosby:  William  P.  Furniss;  John  Haggerty;  Jon- 
athan Hunt:  Peter  Lorillard,  Jr.;  John  Mason's 
estate:  Anson  G.  Phelps ;  estate  of  L.  Salles:  Jonathan 
Thome. 

$800,000 — Thomas  L^gett;  Stephen  B.  Munn; 
Ale.xander  T.  Stewart. 

$700,000 — Jacob  Brandegee:  Matthias  Bruen: 
John  G.  Coster's  estate:  George  Douglass,  William 
Douglass:  Peter  A.  Jay's  estate:  Lewis  Morgan's 
estate:  James  McBride:  Joseph  Sampson. 

$600,000 — Estate  of  James  Desbrosses;  John  H. 
Hicks. 

$529,000 — Augustus  Greele's  estate. 

$500,000 — James  Boorman:  Sydney  Brooks; 
James  Brown;  Margaret  Chesebrough;  Frank  H. 
Delano;  Charles  Dickenson's  estate;  Thomas  Gard- 
iner; F.  Gebhard's  estate;  Jonathan  Goodhue; 
George  Griswold;  Nathaniel  L.  Griswold;  Seth 
Grosvenor:  Harper  &  Brothers:  Gardiner  G.  How- 
land;  John  H.  Howland:  Gould  Hoyts  widow: 
George  Janeway;  Rev.  Jacob  I.  Janeway;  John 
Johnston;  Samuel  Judd;  John  Lafarge. 

David  Leavitt:  David  Lee:  Samuel  Leggett:  Jacob 
Little;  Edward  B.  Little:  Rufus  L.  Lord;  Jacob  Loril- 
lard: George  Lovett;  Benjamin  Marshall:  Joseph 
Marshall:  Oroonclates  Mauran;  Isaac  Newton; 
Courtlandt  Palmer;  Elisha  Peck;  Allison  Post; 
Waldron  B.  Post:  G.  Rapelye's  estate;  J.  Rathbone's 
estate:  Luman  Reed's  estate. 

Henrv  Remsen;  Elisha  Riggs;  John  Robbins; 
C.  V.  S.  Rocsevelt;  Abraham  Schermerhom;  John 
Schermerhorn :  Paul  SpofTord;  Benjamin  Stephens: 
Lispenard  Stewart:  Garret  Storm;  Ferdinand  Suy- 
dam.  Sr.:  Benjamin  L.  Swan;  Abraham  G.  Thompson: 
Herman  Thorn:  Thomas  Tileston;  John  Tonnelee; 
Gideon  Tucker;  WilUam  S.  Wetmore;  Eli  Wliite; 
Henry  Young. 

$450,000 — Joseph  Kemorhan. 

$400,000 — Stephen  Alle.^'  Wm.  H.  Aspinwall; 
David  Austen:  Arthur  Bronson's  estate:  David 
Br>-son;  Isaac  Carow;  Mrs.  Douglas  Cruger;  Philip 
Dater;  Benj.  De  Forest;  Lockwood  De  Forest; 
J.  W.  Depeyster;  Cornelius  Dubois;  John  J.  Glover's 
estate;  Peter  Goelet;  John  C.  Green;  Gilbert  Hop- 
kins; Daniel  James;  Janeway  estate;  Mathew 
Morgan;  Richard  Mortimer;  Sam'l  r.  Mott;  Anson 
G.  Phelps,  Jr.:  Joel  Post's  estate. 

Mrs,  T.  Rejmolds;  Peter  Schermerhom;  Mr. 
Sherman;  Adam  Tredwell;  James  I.  Van  Allen; 
Harvey  Weed;  John  D.  Wolfe. 

$350,000 — Joseph  Foulke;  Jacob  R.  Le  Roy: 
Clement  C.  Moore:  Baltur  Moore:  Henry  Parish: 
Duncan  Phyfe:  Collins  Reed;  Richard  L.  Schieffelin; 
Robert  L.  Stevens;  Jonathan  Thome;  Gen.  Peter 
Van  Zandt. 

$300,000 — John  Adams:  John  Anthon;  BenJ. 
Aymar;  David  Banks:  James  Bogert.  and  his  son; 
S.  R.  Brooks;  Stewart  Brown;  James  Chesterman; 
William  Colgate:  E.  K.  Collins:  Bersilla  Demlng; 
Fredk.  Demlng;  James  Donaldson;  Daniel  Drew; 
I.  Deberceau:  Henry  Fearing:  Hlckson  W.  Field; 
Asa  I^tch,  Jr.;  Theodocius  Fowler;  Sam'l  M.  Fox; 


Nathaniel  Gllman. 

Joseph  Giraud;  Jasper  Grosvemor;  Richard  K. 
Halght:  A.  G.  Hamersley;  Catharine  Hedges:  Uriah 
Hendricks;  Sam'l  Hicks;  Silas  Hicks;  Wm.  H. 
Howland;  Edw.  R.,  Jas.  J.,  and  Jas.  L.  Jones:  J.  D. 
Kearney,  Jr.;  Morris  Ketchum:  Eugene  Kettletas; 
Shepard  Knapp:  Henry  Langdon;  Abraham  Law- 
rence: John  W.  Lea\itt;  Leffert  Lefferts:  Daniel 
Low:  Thos.  W.  Ludlow:  Joseph  Meeks,  Sr.;  P.  A. 
Mesier,  Jr.;  Mrs.  Geo.  B.  Miller:  Wra.  P.  Miller; 
Mrs.  James  Monroe;  John  Morse:  Wra.  F.  Mott; 
William  Paulding:  Thos.  W.  Pearsall;  John  R. 
Peters:  Edward  Prime:  John  Rankin. 

Robert  Ray:  John  Robins;  Jas.  I.  Roosevelt: 
Henry  Russel;  Francis  Saltus;  Effingham  Schieffelin ; 
John  C.  Stevens;  John  Steward:  George  Suckley : 
Moses  Taylor:  Orrin  Thompson;  Abraham  Van  Nest: 
Wm.  E.  Wilmerding;  Christopher  Wolfe;  Henrj- 
Yates. 

Other  New  Yorkers  whose  fortunes  were  estimated 
bv  Beach  in  1844  at  less  than  $300,000  included 
Daniel  Appleton  ($100,000);  Phlneas  T.  Barnum 
(8150.000);  Augustus  Belmont  ($100,000);  Benj. 
F.  Butler  ($1.50,000). 

Peter  Cooper  ($100,000):  R.  C.  Cornell  ($250,000;; 
Dr.  Edw.  Delafleld  ($150,000):  Peter  Delmonico 
($100,000):  Amos  R.  Eno  ($150,000):  David  Dudley 
Field  ($150,000):  Preserved  Fish  ($150,000):  Edwin 
Forrest  ($150,000):  Albert  Gallatin  ($150,000): 
James  W.  Gerard  ($100,000);  Moses  H.  GrinneU 
($250,000):  Wm.  F.  Havemeyer  ($100,000):  Geo. 
A.  Hearn  ($150,000):  Edward  Heckscher  ($200,000). 

Philip  Hone  ($150,000):  James  Kent  ($100,000); 
James  Gore  King  ($200,000) :  V/illiam  C.  Rhinelander 
($200,000):  Richard  Riker's  estate  ($250,000). 

Of  Stephen  Allen,  who  had  been  Mayor,  Beach 
says,  "He  Is  just,  but  not  generous:  and  In  mind  and 
mamiers  mde  and  unpoUshed."  He  had  been  a  sailor, 
and  made  a  fortune  as  a  sail  maker. 

William  B.  Astor.  a  son  of  John  Jacob  Astor.  to 
whom  his  father  gave  the  Astor  House,  "received 
much  of  his  property  from  his  deceased  uncle.  Henry 
Astor,  long  celebrated  as  a  butcher  In  the  Bowery, 
in  which  business  he  accumulated  his  wealth." 

P.  T.  Baraum  was  the  "guardian  of  the  celebrated 
Tom  Thumb,"  the  midget,  whom  he  exhibited  in 
this  country  and  In  Europe. 

The  parents  of  Henry  Brevoort,  Jr.,  owned  a  farm 
of  about  1 1  acres,  bounded  on  the  south  by  10th  St. 
WTien  cut  up  into  building  plots  It  made  them  rich. 

The  Cos^rs,  John  G.  and  Henry  A.,  made  millions 
as  Holland  gin  importers,  in  Napoleon's  time.  The 
money  they  amassed,  says  Beach,  In  his  book, 
"is  nearly  all  melted  away  before  It  has  bareb'  got 
Into  the  hands  of  their  children.  Dr.  Hosack,  de- 
ceased, made  a  deep  gouge  into  that  of  Henry's 
widow,  but  where  is  it?" 

Peter  Cooper,  in  1844,  was  "manufacturer  of  the 
celebrated  Cooper's  refined  Islng  Glass.  "  Aaron 
Arnold  was  "an  Englishman  who  brought  money 
with  him  from  England,  and  has  been  in  the  retail 
dry  goods  business  in  Canal  Street,  and  now  in 
partnership  with  his  son-in-law.  Constable,  an 
Englishman  also." 

Francis  Cooper,  remarks  Beach,  ■'was  "bora  in 
Germany,  and  early  In  life  made  money  as  a  black- 
smith. He  has  married  two  rich  wives,  but  has  no 
children."  ^ 

Preserved  Fish  "made  ^  ills  money  as  a  Sea 
Captain." 

Anson  G.  Phelps,  accorair.k,  to  Beach,  originally 
was  a  tin  peddler,  selling  the  wares  he  had  made. 


